Skeletal Maturation Assessment — NDEB AFK MCQ

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HardOrthodonticsSkeletal Maturation AssessmentNDEB AFK

Which skeletal maturation indicator on the hand-wrist radiograph signals the onset of the pubertal growth spurt?

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Correct answer: B — Sesamoid bone ossification of the thumb

The appearance (ossification) of the adductor sesamoid bone of the thumb on hand-wrist radiography is a reliable indicator of the onset of the adolescent growth spurt. This coincides approximately with cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) stage 3. The pubertal growth spurt is the optimal timing for functional appliance therapy in Class II patients and for growth modification treatments.

Reference: Proffit – Contemporary Orthodontics, 6th ed., 2019