BONE AGE AND DENTAL AGE IN PATIENTS TREATED WITH GROWTH HORMONE

Keywords:  hormone bone age, growth, dental age          
Growth hormone stimulates protein synthesis and multiplication and differentiation,much of its effects are mediated by the somatomedins.Although the relationship between bone and tooth maturation and eruption under growth hormone administration has been studied,it is not clear whether its deficit directly influences these tooth parameters. Objective:To determine the relationship between bone and tooth age through the degree of calcification of permanent tooth germs and bone mineralization age of hand and wrist in children treated with growth hormone.Method: Patients that assisted to the Endocrinology service of a public Hospital,boys and girls, between 7 and 13 years old,treated with growth hormone were selected.Dental X-rays were taken with a radiographic Panoramic X-Ray System (Vatech) equipment and images were digitized. Radiographic images with those of the Atlas Grewlich and Pyle were compared for bone age.For the calculation of the dental age, the calcification of the permanent elements present in the left lower hemiarcade, were studied through the Dermijian method.Chronological age was obtained between the date of birth and that of the study.The control group was constituted by children without growth retardation and with good health. Variables were statistically analyzed with the T pared test using the SPSS program.Results:The analysis of the bone age regarding the chronological age in children treated with growth hormone showed significant differences (p<0.001).There was a negative discrepancy of 2.1 years between the bone age the chronological age. Analysis of dental age in regards to the chronological age showed significant differences (p<0.05).The discrepancy displayed between the dental age and the chronological age was 1.1 years.Conclusions: For children treated with growth hormone,the carpal x-ray better demonstrated the maturative delay than that found through the calcification of the left lower hemiarcade of the permanent elements used in the determination of the dental age bone.