Correlation between carpal maturation stages and mandibular canine development stages in patients subjected to orthodontic treatment

Resumen

The importance of assessing bone maturation levels in our patients (so as to be able to emit a proper diagnosis and design suitable orthodontic planning) has led us to study different bone maturation indicators. The most extensively used method at the Mexico Children´s Hospital Federico Gomez1 is the carpal indicator method (Björk method). Nevertheless, for this method, an additional X-ray is required in the patient files. This additional X-ray is not routinely included in the files; therefore, the present study analyzed the relationship between carpal and dental indicators2 (Demirjian method). This method requires the use of a panoramic X-ray, which is routinely requested for orthodontic treatment. 144 carpus and panoramic X-rays of Mexico Children´s Hospital Federico Gomez patients were used in the study. Carpus and mandibular canine stages were recorded. The results obtained revealed presence of significantly high correlation (standard error 0.39) at some but not all stages (mandibular stages 7, 8 and 9, carpus stages 5, 8 and 9). Bearing these facts in mind we found ourselves unable to advise, as was desired, the use of only panoramic X-rays, discarding carpal X-rays.