title: Assessment of skeletal maturation using mandibular second molar maturation stages.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between cervical vertebrae maturation and mandibular second molar calcification stages.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was designed as a retrospective, descriptive and crosssectional research project. Pre-treatment lateral cephalograms and panoramic radiographs of 99 males and 110 females in the age range of 7 to 18 years 7 months were evaluated with Demirjian Index (DI) and cervical vertebrae maturation indicators (CVMI) of Hassel and Farman. A null hypothesis was proposed that there is no relation between CVMI and DI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A highly significant association (Pearson's contingency coefficient 0.713 for males and 0.863 for females) was found between DI and CVMI. In males, the DI stage E corresponded to stage 2 of CVMI (pre-peak of pubertal growth spurt) and DI stages F and G corresponded to stages 3 and 4 of CVMI (peak of pubertal growth spurt). DI stage H was associated with stages 5 and 6 of CVMI (end of pubertal growth spurt). In females, the DI stages C, D corresponded to CVMI stages 1, 2; DI stages E, F with CVMI stages 3, 4; DI stages G, H with CVMI stages 5, 6.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mandibular second molar calcification stages can be used as indicators for assessment of skeletal maturity.
authors: King Faisal Hospital and Research Centre, Rwanda Biomedical Centre, Kigali, Rwanda.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Goyal
authors: Polyclinique LaMedicale, Kigali.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Goyal
authors: Dept of Pedodontics, DAV Dental College, Yamunanagar, Haryana, India.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Gugnani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton / Q000379:methods; D000366:Age Determination by Teeth / Q000379:methods*; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000254:growth & development; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008963:Molar / Q000254:growth & development*; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014074:Tooth Calcification / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Cervical vertebrae maturation indicators; Demirjian Index; Mandibular second molar; Skeletal maturation