title: A new system for assessment of growth using mandibular canine calcification stages and its correlation with modified MP3 stages.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning for growing children must involve growth prediction, especially in the treatment of skeletal problems. Studies have shown that a strong association exists between skeletal maturity and dental calcification stages. The present study was therefore taken up to provide a simple and practical method for assessing skeletal maturity using a dental periapical film and standard dental X-ray machine, to compare the developmental stages of the mandibular canine with that of developmental stages of modified MP3 and to find out if any correlation exists, to determine if the developmental stages of the mandibular canine alone can be used as a reliable indicator for assessment of skeletal maturity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 160 periapical radiographs, of the mandibular right canine and the MP3 region was taken and assessed according to the Dermirjian's stages of dental calcification and the modified MP3 stages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The correlation coefficient between MP3 stages and developmental stages of mandibular canine was found to be significant in both male and female groups. When the canine calcification stages were compared with the MP3 stages it was found that with the exception of the D stage of canine calcification the remaining stages showed a very high correlation with the modified MP3 stages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The correlation between the mandibular canine calcification stages, and the MP3 stages was found to be significant. The canine calcification could be used as a sole indicator for assessment of skeletal maturity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, A. J. Institute of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Gautham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hegde
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Father Muller Charitable Institution, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Nanditha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hegde
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, A. J. Institute of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, A. J. Institute of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.lastname: Keshavaraj
keywords: Canine calcification; growth prediction; middle phalanx 3; skeletal maturity