Prediction of skeletal maturation using dental mineralization in the Solan, Himachal Pradesh population: An in vivo cross-sectional study

Abstract

The association between dental calcification stages and skeletal maturity is important for estimating chronological age and growth status in children and adolescents. This cross-sectional in vivo study included patients aged 8 to 17 years and assessed dental age using Demirjian’s staging on orthopantomograms and skeletal age using cervical vertebral maturation on lateral cephalograms. A highly significant positive correlation was found between CVMI stages, chronological age, and Demirjian estimated dental age in both sexes (p < 0.001). The first premolar in females (r = 0.816) and the second premolar in males (r = 0.843) were the strongest individual predictors of skeletal maturity, while the second molar also showed reliable stage-wise utility. Thus, we document specific dental calcification stages that can serve as practical clinical indicators of skeletal maturation and growth phase assessment.