PSYCHOLOGICAL AND FUNCTIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF DENTAL SYMMETRY IN MAXILLARY AND MANDIBULAR GROWTH

Background: Tooth development follows a structured sequence, progressing through mineralization and root formation. The assessment of dental development is essential for age estimation in forensic and clinical dentistry. While symmetry between the left and right sides of the jaw is often assumed, discrepancies between the maxilla and mandible in tooth formation remain less explored. This study evaluates the developmental symmetry of permanent teeth using the Moorrees and Demirjian methods, comparing the left and right sides of the jaw as well as the maxilla and mandible. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 150 participants, utilizing panoramic radiographs to assess tooth development. The developmental stages of permanent teeth were evaluated using the Moorrees and Demirjian methods. Statistical analyses, including paired t-tests, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, and McNemar tests, were used to compare intra-arch (left vs. right) and inter-arch (maxilla vs. mandible) symmetry. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated to assess inter-observer reliability. Results: The findings indicated a high degree of symmetry between the left and right sides of both the maxilla and mandible, with over 90% agreement in most teeth. No significant differences were observed within each jaw (p > 0.05), supporting the assumption of intra-arch symmetry. However, a statistically significant difference was found between the maxillary and mandibular teeth (p < 0.05), with mandibular teeth developing earlier than their maxillary counterparts. The first and second molars showed the highest agreement, whereas premolars and canines exhibited greater variation between the maxilla and mandible. Conclusion: This study confirms symmetrical development between the left and right sides of the jaw reinforcing the reliability of contralateral teeth in forensic and clinical assessments. However, the developmental differences observed between the maxilla and mandible suggest the need for separate analyses when estimating dental age. These findings contribute to improving forensic age estimation techniques and orthodontic treatment planning. Further research with larger, more diverse populations is recommended to enhance the generalizability of these results.