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Evaluating the predictive value of quantitative parameters: Can bone density and maxillary transverse dimensions
Shelly Saxena1, Adeel Ahmed Bajjad2, Jasleen Kour3
1Department of Orthodontics, Teerthanker Mahaveer Dental College and Research Centre, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Introduction:
The primary aim of this study was to establish a correlation between the maturation of the midpalatal suture (MPS), bone density (BD), and transverse dimensions of the maxilla. The secondary goal was to evaluate whether BD or transverse dimensions of the maxilla could serve as quantitative methods for assessing MPS maturation.
Methods:
A retrospective observational study was conducted on 114 cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) records divided into 4 groups according to chronological age: group 1 (10-13 years), group 2 (14-17 years), group 3 (18-21 years), and group 4 (22-25 years). The MPS maturation stage, BD in 5 areas along the MPS, quantified using CBCT with gray values converted to Hounsfield units (HU), and transverse dimensions of the maxilla were assessed. Principal component analysis synthesized BD measurements into a composite gray score, with the first principal component (F1) capturing >90% of the variance. The data were then subjected to statistical analyses.
Results:
BD was highest in all regions in stage E and the lowest in stage B. A strong positive correlation was observed between MPS maturation stage, BD, and intermolar width. A weak correlation was observed for the intercanine width. The classification and regression tree analysis showed that a synthetic BD >687.93 HU would be classified as stage E, whereas those with a BD measurement <290.83 HU would be categorized as stage B. Females showed early maturation of the MPS compared with males.
Conclusions:
Quantitative assessment of MPS BD, synthesized via principal component analysis from CBCT measurements across 5 regions, and maxillary transverse dimensions reliably indicate MPS maturation stages.
