Zygomaticotemporal suture maturation evaluation in Chinese population using cone-beam computed tomography images

Area of Science:

• Orthodontics
• Craniofacial Development
• Radiographic Assessment

Background:

• Assessing skeletal maturity is crucial for orthodontic treatment planning.
• Cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) is a widely used indicator of skeletal age.
• The zygomaticotemporal suture (ZTS) is another potential indicator of skeletal maturation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate zygomaticotemporal suture (ZTS) maturation stages.
• To analyze age distribution patterns of ZTS maturation.
• To investigate the relationship between ZTS maturation and cervical vertebral maturation (CVM).

Main Methods:

• Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of 261 patients (112 males, 149 females) were analyzed.
• ZTS stages were defined using a modified method.
• Statistical analyses included Spearman correlation, ICC, ANOVA, and rank sum tests; likelihood ratios (LRs) evaluated diagnostic value.

Main Results:

• A significant positive correlation was found between ZTS and CVM stages (r=0.747) and ZTS and chronological age (r=0.727).
• Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were 0.621 for ZTS-CVM and 0.330 for ZTS-age.
• High positive LRs (>10) indicated CVM stages are valuable for diagnosing specific ZTS maturation stages.

Conclusions:

• Zygomaticotemporal suture (ZTS) maturation is more closely related to cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) than chronological age.
• CVM stages serve as effective indicators for clinical decisions in maxillary protraction, with exceptions for CS4 and CS5.