title: Relationship between mandibular second molar calcification stages and cervical vertebrae maturity in Italian children and young adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the stages of calcification of the mandibular second molar and the stages of skeletal maturity among Italian children and young adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional descriptive study. The samples were derived from panoramic radiographs and lateral cephalograms of 500 Italian subjects aged from 10 to 20 years. Dental maturity index (DM) was assessed by calcification stages of the mandibular second molars according to the Demirjian method; skeletal maturity was evaluated with cervical vertebrae maturation index (CVM) according to Hassel and Farman. The Pearson r coefficient and Spearman rank correlation coefficient were estimated to determine the relationship between DM and CVM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Skeletal maturation stages occurred earlier in females (about 6 months). A highly significant correlation between CVM and DM (0.78-0.86 cor according to Pearson test and 0.81-0.85 rho according to Spearman test) was found. DM stage E corresponds to phase CVM 1 and 2 (the phase prior to the growth spurt), DM stage F corresponds to the phase of pubertal growth spurt, stages CVM 2 and CVM 3; DM stage G is indicator of the growth spurt underway (CVM 3-4), but it can still be found during CVM 5 in females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The second mandibular molars can be considered reliable indicators for the evaluation of the growth phases. In case of females the end of the growth spurt it is not clearly associated with a dental maturity stage and needs to be stated with further parameters such as CVM.
authors.affiliation: Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Unit of Orthodontics and Paediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cossellu
authors.affiliation: Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Unit of Orthodontics and Paediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Biagi
authors.affiliation: Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Unit of Orthodontics and Paediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pisani
authors.affiliation: Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Unit of Orthodontics and Paediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.affiliation: Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Unit of Orthodontics and Paediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Farronato
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton; D001846:Bone Development / Q000502:physiology; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000254:growth & development*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008963:Molar / Q000502:physiology*; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D014074:Tooth Calcification / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult