Determination of Bone Age for Orthodontic Treatment Planning and the Prospects for Using Artificial Intelligence in Bone Age Diagnosis in Adolescents (Literature Review)

Abstract

Relevance. Bone age determination is an essential step in orthodontic treatment. The article reviews modern methods of bone age assessment, including hand radiography and cervical vertebrae analysis. The advantages and disadvantages of each method are discussed.

Practical recommendations for their use in clinical practice are provided. Precise identification of peak bone growth periods helps preventrelapses and ensures the stability of orthodontic treatment outcomes.

Objective: to analyze modern methods of bone age determination, including hand radiography and cephalometric approaches, evaluating their reliability and practical significance for orthodontics.

Review Methods. A literature review of scientific publications was conducted to cover traditional and modern approaches to bone age determination. The focus is placed on hand radiography, cephalometric methods, and emerging advancements like artificial intelligence that may improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce subjectivity.

Key Methods in Bone Age Determination. The review discusses the Greulich-Pyle method, based on comparing hand radiographs to standard images, the Tanner-Whitehouse method, which involves a detailed analysis of ossification zones, and the Baccetti cephalometric method, which reduces the need for additional radiation exposure for patients.

Conclusions. Modern methods of bone age determination are reliable tools for predicting bone growth in adolescents, which is critical for effective orthodontic treatment planning. The advancement of artificial intelligence holds promise for further improving diagnostic methods, increasing the speed and accuracy of skeletal maturity assessments.