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Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Comparison of dental maturity between two ethnic groups
J Stefanac-Papić1, K Z Alkadri, M Legović
1Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Zagreb.
Collegium Antropologicum
|February 10, 1999
Summary
Children in Damascus exhibit delayed dental maturity compared to those in Zagreb, impacting craniofacial growth assessment. This finding aids orthodontics and pedodontics diagnostics.
Area of Science:
- Dentistry
- Anthropology
- Orthodontics
Background:
- Dental maturity is a key indicator of craniofacial growth and development.
- Assessing dental development aids in diagnosis, treatment planning, and prognosis in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and compare dental growth and development patterns between two distinct ethnic groups.
- To establish reference values for dental maturity in specific populations for clinical application.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 480 orthopantomograms from orthodontic and dental patients in Zagreb, Croatia, and Damascus, Syria.
- Included 240 subjects per city, balanced for sex (120 boys, 120 girls) and chronological age (8-13 years).
- Assessed dental maturity using Nolla's method and analyzed results statistically.
Main Results:
- Subjects from Damascus demonstrated a delay in dental maturity.
- This delay ranged from 1 year in girls to 2 years in boys compared to the Zagreb cohort.
- Statistically significant differences were observed between the two ethnic groups.
Conclusions:
- Significant differences in dental maturity exist between children from Damascus and Zagreb.
- The established reference values can serve as valuable diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic tools in orthodontics and pedodontics.
- Understanding ethnic variations in dental development is crucial for accurate craniofacial assessments.
