Alberto De Stefani
University of Padua, Italy
Title: Patient’s skeletal age evaluation using the middle phalanx maturation of the third finger
Biography
Biography: Alberto De Stefani
Abstract
The orthodontist should evaluate carefully patient’s skeletal age to start an interceptive treatment. Different methods are used: Fishman’s hand wrist radiograph (Fishman 1982), cervical vertebral maturation (CVM method) in a lateral radiograph (Baccetti 2002), middle phalanx maturation of the third finger (MPM method) with an endoral radiograph (Perinetti 2014). Both CVM and MPM methods show six stages (CVS and MPS): two prepubertal stages (CVS 1-2 and MPS 1-2), two pubertal stages (CVS 3-4 and MPS 3-4), and two post-pubertal (CVS 5-6 and MPS 5-6). A diagnostic agreement between the stages of the MPM and the CVM was found so MPM can be used complementary or in alternative to CVM. In literature MPM is evaluated on the right hand as reference. A research made by University of Padua shows a difference of development between the right and the left hand in Caucasian patients. Hand preferred by the patient is also evaluated.