The use of dental age as maturity indicator: A comprehensive review.

N.S. Koupis, M.A. Papadopoulos, A.E. Athanasiou
Hellenic Orthodontic Review 1998;1:159-73.

The use of dental age as an index of the overall maturity of a child was investigated through the literature. The methods used for the estimation of dental development were described and the advantages and disadvantages of each one of them were stated. The relationships between dental age and other maturity indicators were also presented. According to several investigators, the estimation of dental age can serve as a criterion of physical development. Nevertheless, it remains questiona6le whether associations based on dental stages are strong enough to make reliable clinical predictions. The estimation of dental age (and especially dental calcification stages) might be used as first-level diagnostic test to determine whether additional, more sensitive, measures of maturity are necessary.

Request for reprints:Dr. A.E. Athanasiou, Professor, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54006 Thessaloniki, Greece