Association of the gonial angle with age, gender, and dental status: A radiographic study using lateral cephalogram and orthopantomogram

Introduction

In the mandible, the gonial angle value is used to ascertain the age and gender differences for the forensic and anthropological purposes. Lots of research is being conducted on this topic, but the result of one contradicts the other.

Methods

We tested the hypothesis of a relationship between gonial angle and the age, gender and dental status using lateral cephalograms and orthopantomograms from 242 subjects aged between 6 and 80 years. The Paired t-test was used to assess the difference in the gonial angle between the radiographs and independent samples t-test was used to assess the difference between male and female samples. ANOVA test with Post hoc multiple comparisons were used to assess the difference in gonial angle among the age subgroups in both the radiographs. The p-value <0.05 was considered for statistical significance.

Results

There was significant difference in the gonial angle values between lateral cephalograms and OPG. The mean difference was greater on the left side (1.77° ± 3.57) than on the right side of the mandible (1.54° ± 3.00). A significant gender difference in gonial angle was observed in lateral cephalogram. The dentulous group had significantly higher gonial angle values than the edentulous group. Only OPG gonial angles showed significant difference among age groups.

Conclusion

The gonial angle values in orthopantomogram and lateral cephalogram differ significantly. The gonial angle from orthopantomogram can be used for age estimation and that from lateral cephalogram can be used for gender determination.