Validity of the Demirjian method for dental age estimation for Southern Turkish children.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of the Demirjian method for southern Turkish population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Panoramic radiographs of 535 patients (276 females, 259 males aged from 10 to 18 years) selected retrospectively. Dental age was calculated using the Demirjian's method. Chronologic age was calculated by subtracting the date of the birth from the date of the panoramic radiograph after having converted both to a decimal age. The chronologic and dental ages were compared using the paired t-test. RESULTS: The mean difference between the chronologic and dental ages ranged from 0.02 to 0.79 years in females. These differences in females between the chronologic and dental ages were statistically significant in total (P < 0.050) and in G1 (10-10.90 years) (P < 0.010) and G2 (11-11.90 years) (P < 0.001). The mean difference between the chronologic and dental ages ranged from 0.04 to 0.85 years in males. These differences in males between the chronologic age and dental age were statistically significant in total (P < 0.010) and in G4 (13-13.90 years) G5 (14-14.90 years) G6 (15-15.90 years) groups (P < 0.050). CONCLUSIONS: It is appropriate to use the Demirjian method in southern Turkish children; however, a revision is needed in some age groups.

Comparison of the effects of rapid maxillary expansion and surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion in the sagittal, vertical, and transverse planes.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of rapid maxillary expansion (RME) and surgically assisted RME (SARME) in the sagittal, vertical, and transverse planes. STUDY DESIGN: Orthodontic records of 28 patients were selected retrospectively and divided into two treatment groups. Group 1 comprised 14 patients (4 boys, 10 girls, mean age 14.2 ± 0.74 years) who had been treated with RME. Group 2 comprised 14 patients (4 boys, 10 girls, mean age 19.6 ± 2.73 years) who had been treated with SARME. Measurements were performed on lateral and posteroanterior cephalograms and dental casts obtained before (T0) and after (T1) expansion. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found in soft tissue convexity angle, anterior face height, and upper nasal width in group 1, and in U1-NA length and posterior face height measurements in group 2 (P<.05). In both groups significant increases were found in interpremolar, intermolar, maxillary, and lower nasal widths and in anterior lower face height (P<.01). Statistically significant intergroup differences were found in the ANB angle (P<.05) and maxillary intercanine (P<.01) measurements. CONCLUSION: With both RME and SARME, successful expansion of maxillary dentoalveolar structures and nasal cavity and palatal widening were achieved. Sagittal plane effects of SARME were similar to those of RME on dental skeletal and airway measurements.