ASSESSMENT OF GONIAL ANGLE, BIGONIAL WIDTH AND HEIGHT OF MANDIBULAR RAMUS IN DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS AND GENDER VARIATIONS IN CHENNAI POPULATION- A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract

Background: Gonial  angle is the posterior angle between the body and lower border of ramus of the mandible. It is an important tool for determination of sex and age. Gonial angle is sharp and prominent in younger age . Hence it is used in forensic odontology  as a forensic tool for gender and age determination.

Aim: To study and assess the gonial angle, bigonial width and height of ramus of mandible and its variations with the age and sex.

Materials and method: A total of 111 OPGs were collected from the institution database which included 52 females and 59 males with the age ranging from 10-75 years. The cephalometric landmarks right and left gonial angle, tip of the condyle were located and traced in a tracing paper using a 2HB pencil. The gonial angle, bigonial width and height of the ramus of the mandible were measured. The subjects were divided based on age and gender. Differences between variables were analyzed using the SPSS software  with probability level of P < 0.05, which is considered as a statistically significant value.

Results: The gonial angle, bigonial width, height of ramus of mandible values are more in males when compared to females in all the age groups. No statistical difference is found between the right and the left gonial angle. The gonial angle decreases with increase in age in both sex.

Conclusion: The bigonial width and the height of the ramus of mandible increase gradually with increase in age.