Relationship between condyle cortication, sphenooccipital synchondrosis, and chronological age.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the relationship between chronologic age, mandibular condyle cortication, and sphenooccipital synchondrosis (SOS) fusion.

METHODS

Cone Beam Computed Tomography data of 253 patients were retrospectively evaluated. Mandibular condyle cortication was divided into three classes as Types I, II, and III. SOS fusion grade was categorized using a four-stage system (0-3). These variables were evaluated in relation to age and sex.

RESULTS

There were significant positive relationships between age and condyle cortication, and between age and SOS fusion stage and between cortication type and SOS fusion stage.

CONCLUSION

Due to the positive correlation between the degree of SOS fusion stage, the condyle cortication type, and the chronological age, these indicators can be used for age estimation.