The relationship between bone age, chronological age and dental age in children with isolated growth hormone deficiency

AIM: To relate dental age and bone age to chronological age in a group of children with isolated growth hormone deficiency (GHD). DESIGN: A group of 25 children between the ages of 6 and 18 years, diagnosed as having GHD were studied. Of these, 16 were male and nine were female, undergoing replacement therapy with growth hormone (GH) over 2.5 years. Dental age (DA) was estimated from orthopantograms (Haavicko Methods) and compared to bone age (BA) by Greulich and Pyle Standards, and chronological age (CA). RESULTS: CA versus BA--there was a statistically significant difference of 1.52 years between the average chronological age and bone age (t = 5.61, P < 0.001). CA versus DA--there was a statistically significant difference of 0.92 years between the average chronological age and dental age (t = 3.93, P < 0.001). BA versus DA--statistically nonsignificant differences were found between the average bone age and dental age (t = -0.60, P = 0.10). CONCLUSION: After 2.5 years of therapy with growth hormone both DA and BA showed a significant delay compared to CA. Despite the fact that some catch-up occurs in speed of growth there is no evidence from the children in our study that might support the occurrence of a similar speed-up in dental age.