Dentition phase and chronological age in relation to gingival crevicular fluid alkaline phosphatase activity in growing subjects.

OBJECTIVE: Identification of skeletal maturation phases is of primary importance in terms of individual responsiveness to nearly all dentofacial orthopaedic treatments. In this regard, dentition phase and chronological age are still widely used to define the timing of and responsiveness to orthodontic treatments. Recently, gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity has been shown to be a reliable biomarker of skeletal maturation in growing subjects. Here, for the first time, circumpubertal dentition phases and chronological age were evaluated for correlations with GCF ALP activity, as a biomarker of skeletal maturation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-five healthy growing subjects (51 females, 34 males; mean age, 11.7±2.3 years) were enrolled into this double-blind, prospective, cross-sectional-design study. Samples of GCF were collected from each subject at the mesial and distal sites of both of the central incisors, at the maxillary and mandibular arches. Their dentition phases were recorded as intermediate mixed, late mixed, or permanent. GCF ALP enzymatic activity was determined spectrophotometrically. RESULTS: The dentition phases showed median GCF ALP activities from 42.0 to 67.5 mU/sample. Although these were slightly greater for the permanent dentition, no significant differences were seen. Also, the chronological age did not correlate significantly with GCF ALP activity, and no significant differences were seen between maxillary and mandibular sites in any of the comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment for treatment timing of dentofacial disharmonies in individual patients that require monitoring of their skeletal maturation phases should not rely on their circumpubertal dentition phase and chronological age