Age- and sex-related mandibular dimensional changes: A radiomorphometric analysis on panoramic radiographs.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Mandible undergoes age- and sex-related structural changes similar to other bones of the body. Thus, morphometric analysis of the mandible helps in age and sex determination. AIM: To investigate the influence of age and sex on the mandible by measuring three parameters, i.e. gonial angle, ramus height and bigonial width. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective radiomorphometric analysis was conducted in the department of Oral Medicine and Radiology. A total of 300 panoramic radiographs (150 males and 150 females) equally distributed in six study groups according to the age were analysed. The measurements were performed using DIGORA 2.8 software for Windows. The acquired data was statistically analysed by one way ANOVA test and Student's t-test using SPSS (v. 19.0). RESULTS: Statistically significant differences according to age were found in gonial angle dimensions. Ramus height and bigonial width did not demonstrate statistically significant co-relation with age. According to sex, all the three study parameters showed statistically highly significant differences. CONCLUSION: The morphometric analysis of the mandible is a useful tool for age estimation and sex determination.