Dental maturity in children of short stature, with or without growth hormone deficiency

The aim of this investigation was to study dental maturity in healthy prepubertal children of short stature (height<-2 SD), with or without growth hormone (GH) deficiency, compared to healthy controls. The GH-deficient group (GH level<10.0 microg/l) included 29 children (11 female, 18 male) with a mean age of 10.2+/-2.2 years. The GH non-deficient group consisted of 17 children (5 female, 12 male) with a mean age of 8.5+/-2.1 years. All the children were evaluated for serum concentrations of IGF-1, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), triiodthyronin (T3), thyroxine (T4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and fasting plasma insulin; height and bone age were also recorded. Dental maturity was determined from panoramic radiographs. The mean difference between the dental and chronological ages was -0.67+/-0.89 years in the GH-deficient group compared to 0.23+/-1.07 years in their controls: in the GH non-deficient group the difference was -0.95+/-0.82 years compared to controls 0.16+/-1.06 years in their controls. Compared to chronological age, both bone and dental age were lower in the GH-deficient and GH non-deficient groups. It is concluded that children of short stature, both GH-deficient and GH non-deficient. exhibit a delayed dental age compared to their chronological age- and sex-matched controls. A multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that the sitting height and GH level were the only significant factors associated with dental maturity.