This study was aimed to investigate the reliability of a computer application for assessment of the stages of cervical vertebra maturation in order to determine the stage of skeletal maturity. For this study, digital lateral cephalograms of 99 subjects (52 females and 47 males) were examined. The following selection criteria were used during the sample composition: age between 9 and 16 years, absence of anomalies of the vertebrae, good general health, no history of trauma at the cervical region. Subjects with lateral cephalograms of low quality were excluded from the study. For the purpose of this study a computer application Cephalometar HF V1 was developed. This application was used to mark the contours of the second, third and fourth cervical vertebrae on the digital lateral cephalograms, which enabled a computer to determine the stage of cervical vertebral maturation. The assessment of the stages of cervical vertebral maturation was carried out by an experienced orthodontist. The assessment was conducted according to the principles of the method proposed by authors Hassel and Farman. The degree of the agreement between the computer application and the researcher was analyzed using by statistical Cohen Kappa test. The results of this study showed the agreement between the computer assessment and the researcher assessment of the cervical vertebral maturation stages, where the value of the Cohen Kappa coefficient was 0.985. The computer application Cephalometar HF V1 proved to be a reliable method for assessing the stages of cervical vertebral maturation. This program could help the orthodontists to identify the stage of cervical vertebral maturation when planning the orthodontic treatment for the patients with skeletal disharmonies.

Skeletal maturity assessment using mandibular canine calcification stages

Background/Objectives: The relation between the orthopedic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) instability and temporomandibular disorder (TMD) most commonly remain unrecognized by orthodontists. In this study we aimed to evaluate the dentofacial characteristics and temporomandibular disorder symptomatology of patients with orthopedic instability before and after deprogramming with a stabilization splint. Methods: Sixty patients with the signs and symptoms of TMD were assessed using the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) and underwent stabilization splint therapy to place the condyles in a more stable musculoskeletal position. The extent of condylar displacement was evaluated using the condylar position indicator (CPI). Sixteen angular and linear hard tissue landmarks were traced and compared from lateral cephalograms taken in the maximum intercuspation (MI) position before, and in the centric relation (CR) position after, the splint therapy. Results: Following the splint therapy, the signs and symptoms of TMD were significantly reduced or completely eliminated in more than 90% of patients. Compared with the values registered before the splint therapy, a significant reduction in the mean values of condylar displacement was observed on both sides of the vertical (p < 0.001), horizontal (p < 0.05), and transverse (p < 0.001) planes of space after the splint therapy. A comparison of pre- and post-splint lateral cephalograms revealed that, following the splint therapy, the mandible moved more posteriorly and rotated in a more clockwise direction. Conclusions: In patients with orthopedic instability and the signs and symptoms of TMD, muscle deprogramming with a stabilization splint therapy is highly recommended to improve the health of the temporomandibular joint and masticatory structures and contribute to a more correct orthodontic diagnosis.