Relationship between dental development and CVM in UK subjects
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A study into the relationship between the stage of dental development and cervical vertebral maturation in UK subjects
IRAS ID
111340
Contact name
Ashish Dhopatkar
Contact email
Research summary
The aim of this study is to investigate whether there is a relationship between dental development as determined by stage of tooth calcification and skeletal maturity as determined by cervical vertebral maturation stage in the UK population. A tooth calcification stage from A-H is assigned according to the Demirjian Index by reviewing the degree of development of the tooth roots on OPG radiographs which are routinely taken for dental assessment. A cervical vertebral maturation stage from 1-6 is determined by assessing the morphology of cervical vertebrae on lateral cephalometric radiographs taken as part of orthodontic assessment.
Many aspects of orthodontic treatment planning rely on assessment of whether a patient is still actively growing. The growth of the mandible peaks during puberty and it has been demonstrated that the greatest effects of functional orthodontic appliances occur when peak mandibular growth is included in the treatment period. Studies have shown that there is correlation between the peak in mandibular growth and the degree of skeletal maturity assessed from cephalometic radiographs.
If a relationship exists between dental development and skeletal maturity, it will be an important finding for orthodontic care. It would provide a simple way of establishing whether a patient has reached the point of maximum pubertal growth from OPG radiographs as a first level diagnostic tool without need for further investigation.
Subjects will be drawn from patients of the Orthodontic department at Birmingham Dental Hospital. Medically fit and well, White or Asian, male or female subjects aged from 10 to 18 years old will be included.
The study will involve retrospective analysis of radiographs which have already been taken as part of normal clinical management during orthodontic assessment or treatment. No extra radiographs will be taken as part of the study. There will be no effect on subjects clinical management.REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/NE/0221
Date of REC Opinion
13 Jul 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion