Correlation Between the Midpalatal Suture Maturity and the Maxillary Third Molar Mineralization: a CBCT Study

Overview

Assessing the maturation of the mid-palatal suture is an essential criterion for orthodontic decision-making. However, from a CBCT according to Angelieri's classification , it remains difficult for the practitioner's untrained eye. As profile teleradiographs are almost routinely performed in orthodontic check-ups, numerous studies have looked for a correlation between the stage of maturation of the palatal suture and that of the cervical vertebrae. Some have also looked for a link with mineralization of mandibular third or second molars according to Demirjian's classification. These techniques would provide a reliable and reproducible method without the use of CBCT. In our study, the investigators will be looking for a correlation with mineralization of the maxillary third molar according to Nolla's classification. The latter has become common in practice and easy to apply on an orthopantomogram. This would simplify decision-making without the need for a CBCT, but by using the orthopantomogram which is already routinely performed during the assessment.

The study is a non-interventional (observational) research involving the human person, research on existing data (retrospective study). This study analyzes the maturation stage of the Midpalatal suture and the mineralization of the third left molar. This is a comparative retrospective study of radiographs in three dimensions before any orthodontic treatment to study a potential correlation. There is no control group but there are subgroups depending of the age of the patients.

Conditions