Unit C module 3

Question 1

What is adolescence?

Answer 1

It is defined as the stage of growth and development when sexual maturity is attained, and this stage of sexual development is referred to as puberty.

It can be defined more specifically as the transitional period between the juvenile stage and adulthood, during which:

Secondary sex characteristics appear
Fertility is attained
The adolescent growth spurt takes place
Profound psychological changes take place
All these developments are associated with the maturation of the sex organs and the concomitant surge in secretion of sex hormones.

Question 2

What are the major events that happen during adolescence to the teeth?

Answer 2

Exchange of dentition from mixed to permanent.

Acceleration in the overall rate of facial growth

Differential growth of the jaws, i.e more growth in some areas than others.

Question 3

What happens during the adolescent growth spurt?

Answer 3

There is an almost explosively rapid growth and development of the sex organs.

Lymphoid tissue decreases in size – tonsils, adenoids, and the like shrink.

Neural growth is unaffected by sexual maturation – it has been largely comleted by then.

General body growth shows changes in response to sexual growth.

Question 4

Whicch types of hormones are involved in the adolescent growth spurt?

Answer 4

Hypothalamic releasing factors initiate the growth spurt. Produced in the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary gland

Pituitary gonadotrophins are the second type of hormones, they are produced by the pituitary gland for signalling sex hormone release

Sex hormones are produced by the ovary, testis, and adrenal cortex

Question 5

What kind of cells in the hypothalamus secrete the hypothalamic releasing factors?

Answer 5

Neuroendocrine cells

Question 6

What is the pituitary portal system?

Answer 6

A capillary pathway for the hypothalamus to release hormones into the pituitary gland

Question 7

How does growth occur in females?

Answer 7

3 stages. Stage 1 is the beginning of the growth spurt

Stage 2 is the peak

Stage 3 is on the downslope towards the end of the growth spurt.

Question 8

What occurs during stage 1 of the female growth spurt?

Answer 8

Initial signs of sexual maturation such as formation of breast buds and early stages of pubic hair.

Areola widen, pubic hair is slightly pigmented and sparsely distributed along the labia

Question 9

What happens at stage 2 of sexual maturation in females?

Answer 9

Peak velocity for growth occurs as well as more rapid growth of secondary sexual characteristics.

Pubic hair becomes darker and more widely distributed.

Armpit hair starts to form

Breast development shows growth and elevation of both breast and areola with contours being smooth.

Question 10

What happens at stage 3 of sexual maturation in females?

Answer 10

Occurs around 1 to 1.5 years after stage 2 and is marked by completion of growth spurt as well as broadening of the hips, and completion of breast growth.

Areola and papilla form a secondary mound.

Pubic hair has a more adult distribution.

Question 11

What are the stages of male sexual maturation?

Answer 11

Stage 1 at the beginning of puberty

Stage 2 beginning of the growth spurt stage

Stage 3 at the peak

Stage 4 towards the end of the growth spurt

Question 12

What are the characteristics of the first stage of male sexual maturation?

Answer 12

The “fat spurt” begins as adipose tissue increases throughout the body. A more feminine body form develops as a result. Estrogen-producing cells are stimulated by the pituitary gonadotrophins prior to the androgen-producing cells.

Scrotum begins to increase in sie and may show changes in pigmentation while the penis remains juvenile.

Question 13

What happens during stage 2 of puberty in males?

Answer 13

Darker pubic hair

Begin height spurt

Growth of the penis

Loss of fat

Peach fuzz on upper lip which gets more pigmented near the time of stage 3.

Question 14

What orthodontic application is there to stage 2 of puberty in males?

Answer 14

It is a good time to take advantage of the adolescent growth spurt.

Question 15

What happens during stage 3 of puberty in males?

Answer 15

Peak velocity is approached and axillary hair starts to appear.

Facial hair is pigmented at this stage

Question 16

What happens during stage 4 of puberty in males?

Answer 16

Spurt in height ends and facial hair starts to form on the chin as well as the upper lip.

Further increase in muscle mass and redistribution of fat toward the body image of an adult male.

Pubic hair distribution is nearly adult with some spread to medial thigh and some spread beginning in a sagittal direction toward the umbilicus

Question 17

Does the changes in sexual maturation in height correlate with changes in jaw growth?

Answer 17

Yes, the acceleration in height occurs at the same time as an acceleration in growth at the mandibular condyle and a slight acceleration at the sutures of the maxilla. So careful observation of the stage of secondary sexual characteristics would give a dentist insight into the stage of growth of the jaws as well as skeletal growth more generally.

Question 18

Where is growth most prominent in the face during the adolescent growth spurt?

Answer 18

More growth at the condyles than the sutures.

Maturing face becomes less convex and mandible becomes more prominent because of differential jaw growth.

Question 19

How does the growth spurt end?

Answer 19

During adolescent growth the cartilage converts to bone faster than it is replaced until the cartilage runs out

Question 20

How does the climate affect the growth spurt?

Answer 20

Colder climate leads to earlier growth spurt