Assessment of puberty growth spurt in boys and girls--a dental radiographic method.

The first radiographic appearance of adductor sesamoid bone of thumb is considered reliable and is the most commonly used indicator of puberty growth spurt. The purpose of this study was to find out whether the tooth mineralization stage/stages were as reliable an indicator of puberty growth spurt as the adductor sesamoid bone. Puberty assessment has its necessary application in diagnosis, treatment planning of various malocclusions and in medico legal cases. The results indicated that a close relationship existed between tooth mineralization Stage G and appearance of the sesamoid bone. Hence it can be used in dentistry as an indicator for onset of puberty growth spurt via periapical or panoramic radiographs. The result of this study were not applicable to boys as the apical closure of these teeth had already occurred at the time of early radiographic appearance of the adductor sesamoid bone.