Correlation between Mandibular Radiomorphometric Parameters and Gonial Angle size in Iranian Adults

Introdouction: The purpose of the present study was to determine the possible relationship between gonial angle size and three mandibular morphometric parameters, namely, panoramic mandibular index (PMI), mandibular cortical width (MCW), and antegonial notch depth (AD), in digital panoramic radiographs. Materials and methods: PMI, MCW, and AD were calculated in digital panoramic radiographs of 370 dentulous adult subjects with a mean age of 44.2 years and a mean number of remaining teeth of 23.49 &plusmn; 7.71. The differences between the mean values of measured parameters were compared between males and females, among various age groups, and between subjects with low and high gonial angles (gonial angle of &le;120 and &ge;125, respectively) . The correlation between gonial angle size, PMI, MCW, and AD was also evaluated. T-test, ANOVA, and Pearson&rsquo;s correlation test were used for statistical analysis. A P<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: PMI, AD, and MCW(Mandibular Cartical Width) were significantly higher in subjects with low gonial angle (LGA) than those with high gonial angle (HGA). PMI, AD, and MCW were also significantly higher in males than those in females. Significantly negative correlations between the gonial angle and PMI, AD, and MCW were also observed. Conclusion: The mandibular radiomorphometric parameters of PMI, AD, and ACW are related to sex and gonial angle size.