The duration of pubertal growth peak among three skeletal classes

Abstract

Introduction: Pubertal growth peak is closely associated with a rapid increase in mandibular length and offers a wide range of therapeutic modifiability. Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine and compare the mean ages of onset and duration of pubertal growth peak among three skeletal classes. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using lateral cephalograms of 230 subjects with growth potential (110 males, 120 females). Subjects were categorized into three classes (Class I = 81, Class II = 82, Class III = 67), according to the sagittal relationship established between the maxilla and the mandible. The cervical vertebral maturation stage was recorded by means of Baccetti's method. The mean ages at CS3 and CS4 and the CS3-CS4 age interval were compared between boys and girls and among three skeletal classes. Results: Pubertal growth peak occurred on average four months earlier in girls than boys (p = 0.050). The average duration of pubertal growth peak was 11 months in Class I, seven months in Class II and 17 months in Class III subjects. Interclass differences were highly significant (Cohen's d > 0.08). However, no significant difference was found in the timing of pubertal growth peak onset among three skeletal classes (p = 0.126 in boys, p = 0.262 in girls). Conclusions: Girls enter pubertal growth peak on average four months earlier than boys. Moreover, the duration of pubertal growth peak is on average four months shorter in Class II and six months longer in Class III subjects as compared to Class I subjects.

Assessment of the duration of the pubertal growth spurt in patients with skeletal open bite

“…It can therefore be assumed that increased vertical craniofacial growth is probably associated with a longer pubertal spurt. Similar observations were reported by researchers involved in studies on skeletal class III (progenia) [21][22][23], in which the duration of the pubertal growth spurt was 9.72-11 months (0.8-0.9 year) in control groups (patients with normal anteroposterior and vertical measurements) and 14.52-17 months (1.19-1.4 years) in class III patients. Those authors reported that increased mandibular growth may result from longer pubertal growth spurt.…”

Sagittal and vertical craniofacial growth and attainment of circumpubertal middle phalanx maturation (MPM) stages: A multiple regression study

“…To date very little research has focused on the possible association between the timing of the circumpubertal skeletal maturation phases and sagittal craniofacial growth. [5][6][7][8][9][10] In this regard, a shorter and longer pubertal growth spurt, as recorded through the ages of attainment of CVM stages 3 and 4, have been reported for untreated skeletal Class II 7,9 and Class III 6,8,9 subjects, respectively. On the contrary, no significant association has been reported between the sagittal craniofacial growth pattern and attainment of the circumpubertal CVM stages 2, 3 and 4.…”

“…5,10 In a study, 6 the average age at onset of the pubertal peak was similar for both skeletal Class I and Class III subjects, although Class III subjects exhibited a prolonged pubertal CVM stage 3. The use of multivariate models, 5,10 instead of univariate analyses, [6][7][8][9] may explain apparent inconsistencies among the studies. Indeed, the two investigations 5,10 that failed to detect significant associations used multivariate models.…”

“…For instance, deficiency 3 and increased 4 mandibular length in skeletal Class II and Class III subjects, respectively, was suggested to be in part a consequence of the different durations of the pubertal growth spurt in these subjects, as compared to that of Class I subjects. [5][6][7][8] However, in spite of the wide indications for orthopedic treatments in case of skeletal malocclusion, only a few studies investigated on possible correlation between craniofacial growth pattern and attainment/duration of the different skeletal maturation phases [5][6][7]9,10 (according to which timing of intervention is based 1,2 ). These studies also reported contrasting evidence with clinically relevant [5][6][7][8][9] or not relevant 10 correlations.…”

“…All of these previous investigations [5][6][7][8][9][10] used the cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) method 2,11 to assess the attainment of the different circumpubertal skeletal maturation phases. However, the different variants of the method, [12][13][14][15] and the contrasting evidence regarding the reliability of the CVM method in detecting the mandibular growth peak 13,14,[16][17][18] or repeatability 19 would limit the external validity of the method.…”