Comparisons between dental and skeletal ages

Data from 694 untreated children seen in a private orthodontic practice were used to analyze associations between dental and skeletal maturity. Dental ages were obtained by comparison with Bolton Standards; skeletal ages were assessed using the Greulich-Pyle atlas. In some children the difference between the dental and skeletal ages was as large as 36 months; the difference was less than 6 months in fewer than 40% of the children. Regression analyses showed only moderate associations between these measures. One measure of maturity cannot be inferred from the other.