engleski

Maturation of wisdom teeth: influence of skeletal growth pattern and gender

Objectives: To assess the influence of gender and pattern of skeletal growth on the maturation of wisdom teeth. Methods: Panoramic radiographs of 158 subjects (86 girls) taken for each subject at 12, 15 and 18 years of age, from the Nittedal growth study, Norway, were analysed. Nittedal material included children born in the period 1958 – 1972 (a total of 4229 subjects) that reported for dental examination every 3 years from the age of 6 until the age of 21. None of the subjects had undergone orthodontic treatment. Maturation stage of one mandibular third molar was determined according to the method of Demirjian. Analysis of the ANB angle, Björk`s polygon and intermaxillary angle at the age of 12 was performed on lateral cephalographs. T- test, analysis of variance and Student-Newman- Keuls post-hoc test were used in the statistical analysis. Results: Boys demonstrated more rapid maturation of third molars than girls in total observed period 12 -18 years (4.5 vs. 4.0 Demirjian stages, p<0.05). Third molars maturated more rapidly in 15 – 18 in comparison to 12 – 15 though with a low effect size of 4% (p=0.011). Horizontal growth pattern was associated with higher maturation stage of lower third molars at the age of 12 when compared to the neutral and vertical pattern (3.1 vs. 2.1 vs. 1.7 Demirjian stages, p<0.05). More rapid development of wisdom teeth in the period 15-18 was seen in class II and III compared to class I. Conclusions: Boys seem to develop wisdom teeth more rapidly in adolescence than girls. Some types of skeletal growth patterns might relate to a diverse dynamic of maturation of wisdom teeth.

third molars ; facial growth

Sveučilišna potpora br. 13.06.2.1.53.