SKELETAL MATURITY INDICATORS: "An In-depth Exploration of Skeletal Maturity Indicators: Evaluating Radiographic, Biochemical, and Clinical Approaches

Skeletal Maturity Indicators: An In-depth Exploration Skeletal maturity assessment is crucial in various fields, particularly in orthodontics and forensic science, where it plays a vital role in predicting growth patterns, treatment planning, and identifying individuals' age for legal purposes. Understanding skeletal maturity offers insights into growth stages, which significantly affect clinical decisions regarding orthodontic interventions, such as the timing of braces, extractions, or orthographic surgery. Forensic scientists also rely on skeletal maturity to estimate the age of individuals, particularly in cases where birth records are unavailable, or the person’s identity is unknown.This dissertation explores multiple methods used to assess skeletal maturity, focusing on traditional radio graphic techniques, biochemical markers, and more modern approaches. The goal is to critically examine these methods, comparing their advantages, limitations, and potential for integration in clinical practice.