Assessment of growth status by correlating the maturation stages of middle phalanx of the third finger and calcification stages of mandibular third molar in an institutional set up

Abstract

The present study aims to assess the correlation between maturation stages of the middle phalanx of the third finger and calcification stages mandibular of the third molar in 9-16 years old children in the South Indian population. A total of 39 subjects between the age of 9-16 years were included for this study. Their pretreatment digital panoramic and hand-wrist radiographs were retrieved from the DIAS software provided by Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, TamilNadu, India. These records were analyzed with the help of Demirjian index, used for mandibular third molar maturation stage, and Modified MP3 method, used for Middle phalanx maturation stage. Pearson's Chi-Square tests were done to analyze the association between Mp3 stages and mandibular third molar calcification stages. The statistical tests were performed in SPSS software. The results of this study showed that there is a statistically significant association between Demirjian index and modified MP3 stages in both females (p<0.002) and males (p<0.000). Within the limitations of this study, it was concluded that calcification stages of the lower third molar could be used as a supportive tool to assess maturation. As third molars are known to have many alterations, individual variation should be taken under consideration.