Dental maturity in Finns and the problem of missing teeth

Authors

  • Marjatta Nyström Department of Pedodontics and Orthodontics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland; Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland
  • Liisa Aine Department of Pedodontics and Orthodontics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland; Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland
  • Leena Peck Department of Pedodontics and Orthodontics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland; Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland
  • Kaarina Haavikko Department of Pedodontics and Orthodontics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland; Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland
  • Matti Kataja Department of Pedodontics and Orthodontics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland; Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1080/000163500429280

Abstract

Development of teeth was studied from 2483 dental panoramic tomograms of 1651 healthy Finns ranging in age from 2 to 25 years. Dental maturity was assessed using a method based on developmental stages of 7 left mandibular teeth. We give sex-specific tables of maturity scores as a function of ages and of ages as a function of maturity scores. Also generated are percentile graphs for visual evaluations of dental maturity in children and adolescents. Since maturity scales do not tolerate any missing data, a great limitation for their use, we have developed linear regression models for predicting the formation stages of each of the 7 mandibular teeth. It was easiest to predict the formation stage of the mandibular first molars (correct in 87% within the study material) and most difficult to predict second molars and second premolars (correct in 69% and 70%, respectively). We expect the data and formulae presented in this study to prove useful in research and in clinical and forensic dentistry.

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Published

2000-01-01

Issue

Vol. 58 No. 2 (2000): Acta Odontologica Scandinavica

Section

Articles