The cervical vertebrae maturation stage method.

Determining growth stage for effective implementation of certain orthopedic treatment modalities is paramount; further determining if there is residual growth in a prospective patient is of equal importance. Surprisingly, many orthodontic clinicians lack sufficient knowledge in this area to confidently implement certain aspects of orthodontic treatment, consequently carrying out many treatment modalities in an untimely and ineffective manner. Age, dental development, sexual maturation or increases in height are all means that have been used to determine stages of skeletal development. However, a more predictable and reliable method for helping establish skeletal maturity is the CVMS (Cervical Vertebrae Maturation Stage) Method. This article will try to help determine the stage of skeletal maturity using the CVMS method since using it may also help determine the best timing for maxillo-mandibular orthopedic treatment.