Cristina Bică, Mariana Păcurar, Eugen Bud
The aim of this study is to establish the relationship between patients’ chronological age and the degree of skeletal maturation in cervical vertebrae appreciated with the help of profile teleradiographies. Material and method: we analyzed the side cephalograms of a child cohort of puberty and prepuberty age. The selected criteria applied to the subjects included were: age between 9-14, normal conditions regarding general growth and development, without severe affections in the antecedents. While the subjects’ chronological age refers to the date of birth, the degree of skeletal maturation is determined through method CVM (Cervical Vertebral Maturation). In order to appreciate skeletal age 6 stages of CVM maturation are used. Results: Stage 1 CVM of skeletal maturity or the prepubertary stage can be identified with the early stage of mixed dentition or the initial stage of permanent dentition. Stage 3 CVM or the puberty phase was identified with the last phase of mixed dentition or the initial stage of permanent dentition. Conclusions: The early stage of mixed dentition is an excellent indicator for appreciating the degree of skeletal maturation in the growth period. The intermediate phase of mixed dentition is not a valid indicator in order to establish skeletal age.