Comparison of dental maturity between two ethnic groups

Dental maturity is one of the indicators of the craniofacial region growth and development.. The aim of the study was to identify and compare dental g rowth and development in two ethnic groups. The material consisted of 480 o rthopantomograms; 240 selected from orthodontic and dental patients from Za greb (Croatia) and Damascus (Syria) each. Each ethnic group included 120 bo ys and 120 girls, while the radiographs were classified into 6 groups of 20 each, according to sex and chronologic age (8-13 years). Dental maturity w as evaluated by the method of Nolla. The results were statistically analyze d and presented in tables. The subjects from Damascus showed a delay in den tal maturity by 1 (girls) to 2 (boys) years compared to the homologous grou p from Zagreb. The reference values determined in the study may serve as a diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic tool in the orthodontics and pedodon tics of the respective cities.