The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability of permanent mandibular canine tooth calcification as an indicator of skeletal maturity in Karnataka population by comparing it with the ossification stages of the middle phalanx of the left third finger and also to compare the sexual dimorphism in the timing of these events.

This study was performed on 100 subjects (50 boys and 50 girls) of South Indian origin aged 10 to 14 years. Radiovisiographs of the middle phalanx of the left third finger and Orthopantomographs were obtained and assessed for the stages of calcification using the methods described by Hagg and Taranger and by Demirjian et al respectively. The correlation between various stages of lower canine calcification and stages of MP3 ossification was assessed for both the sexes using Chi-square test and percentage distributions.

The associations were statistically significant only between MP3-F and canine F stages in both sexes (88% for boys, 59% for girls) and MP3-H and canine H stages in boys (100%). Also girls showed an advanced trend in dental maturation.

The mandibular canine calcification stages alone are not as reliable an indicator as MP3 stages for assessing the skeletal maturity in Karnataka population.