title: Relationship between maturation indices and morphology of the midpalatal suture obtained using cone-beam computed tomography images.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine whether predicting maturation of the midpalatal suture is possible by classifying its morphology on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images and to investigate relationships with other developmental age indices.
  
  
  METHODS
  The morphology of the midpalatal suture was assessed by using CBCT images of 99 patients. Axial plane images of the midpalatal suture were classified into five stages according to the classification scheme. To make the assessment more accurate, the morphology and fusion of the midpalatal suture were additionally investigated on coronal cross-sectional planar images and volume-rendered images. Bone age was evaluated using the hand and wrist method (HWM) and cervical vertebrae method (CVM); dental age (Hellman's index), sex, and chronological age were also assessed. To evaluate relationships among variables, Spearman's rho rank test was performed along with crosstabs using contingency coefficients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HWM and CVM showed strong correlations with the maturation stage of the midpalatal suture, while other indices showed relatively weak correlations (p< 0.01). Through crosstabs, the HWM and CVM showed high association values with CBCT stage; the HWM demonstrated slightly higher values (p< 0.0001). Based on the HWM, the midpalatal suture was not fused until stage 6 in both sexes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among developmental age indices, the HWM and CVM showed strong correlations and high associations, suggesting that they can be useful in assessing maturation of the midpalatal suture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea.
authors.forename: Hong-Ik
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea.; Wonkwang Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Cheol
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea.; Department of Orthodontics, Wonkwang University Daejeon Dental Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Moon
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea.; Wonkwang Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Hwa
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Wonkwang University Daejeon Dental Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea.; Wonkwang Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea.
authors.forename: Na-Young
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea.; Wonkwang Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea.
authors.forename: Keun-Young
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea.; Wonkwang Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Hyoung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cho
keywords: Cervical vertebrae; Cone-beam computed tomography; Hand-wrist; Midpalatal suture