Skeletal Maturity as Seen in the Transverse Sectional Slices of Mandible:A CBCT Study

Human growth is very complex in nature characterised by considerable variation in an individual’s rate of physiologic and skeletal maturity. Variability is the law of nature because of infinite number of genetic possibilities present. No individuals are ever exactly alike. The growth factor is a critical variable in orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning. Predicting the out come of treatment results in a growing patient is often more difficult than in a non growing patient. Prior knowledge of the amount along with rate, timing and direction of maxilla–mandibular growth in any given patient would be extremely useful for forecasting treatment out come.

Skillfull evaluation of growth left in a patient makes a difference in such growth modulations. Having an intrinsic indicator could be a boon for the clinician. Hence the search for such an intrinsic indicator was initiated in this study.