Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Skeletal maturity evaluation plays a critical role in orthodontic treatment planning. While cervical vertebral maturation index (CVMI) and dental calcification stages are commonly used, the potential of frontal sinus dimensions as an additional indicator has gained attention. This study evaluated the correlation of frontal sinus development with skeletal maturation of cervical vertebrae and calcification stages of permanent teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 60 subjects, with a mean age of 13 ± 3.4 (range 8-20) years. Standardized pre-treatment lateral cephalograms were analyzed. Six groups representing different phases of CVMI were created from the entire sample (five males and five females in each group). Frontal sinus maturation was assessed on the same lateral cephalograms. Calcification stages of permanent canines and permanent second molars were assessed according to Demirjian's method, from panoramic radiographs of corresponding subjects taken on the same day. Correlations between the maturation of the frontal sinus with CVMI and calcification stages of permanent canines and permanent second molars were assessed using statistical analysis. RESULTS: Frontal sinus height (FS-H) and depth (FS-D) demonstrated statistically significant positive correlations with advancing CVMI stages and moderate positive correlations with calcification stages of permanent canines and second molars, particularly in males, whereas frontal sinus index (FSI) consistently showed no significant correlation across all groups. Post hoc analyses further confirmed significant differences in sinus dimensions between early and late CVMI stages. CONCLUSIONS: This study concludes that FS-H and FS-D are moderately reliable indicators of skeletal and dental maturity, aligning closely with CVMI and dental calcification stages, particularly in males, and thereby improving treatment planning.