DENTAL MATURITY IN CHILDREN OF SHORT STATURE, WITH OR WITHOUT GROWTH-HORMONE DEFICIENCY

The aim of this investigation was to study dental maturity in healthy prepubertal children of short stature (height < -2 SD), with or withou t growth hormone (GH) deficiency, compared to healthy controls. The GH -deficient group (GH level < 10.0 mu g/l) included 29 children (11 fem ale, 18 male) with a mean age of 10.2 +/- 2.2 years. The GH non-defici ent group consisted of 17 children (5 female, 12 male) with a mean age of 8.5 +/- 2.1 years. All the children were evaluated for serum conce ntrations of IGF-1, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), triiodthyronin (T3), t hyroxine (T4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and fasting plasma i nsulin; height and bone age were also recorded. Dental maturity was de termined from panoramic radiographs. The mean difference between the d ental and chronological ages was -0.67 +/- 0.89 years in the GH-defici ent group compared to 0.23 +/- 1.07 years in their controls; in the GH non-deficient group the difference was -0.95 +/- 0.82 years compared to controls 0.16 +/- 1.06 years in their controls. Compared to chronol ogical age, both bone and dental age were lower in the GH-deficient an d GH non-deficient groups. It is concluded that children of short stat ure, both GH-deficient and GH non-deficient, exhibit a delayed dental age compared to their chronological age-and sex-matched controls. A mu ltiple stepwise regression analysis showed that the sitting height and GH level were the only significant factors associated with dental mat urity.