Age & gender determination using bigonial width & gonial angle in panoramic radiographs

Abstract

Background: Age & Gender determination is a crucial part of forensic researches & investigations. Mandibular parameters, condyle and ramus, in particular have been proved to show a high sexual dimorphism with respect to the development growth patterns and rates. Panoramic radiographs are often used in daily routine dental practices to assess mandibular and maxillary essential structures. The present study is conducted to assess the variations seen in measurements of gonial angle and bigonial width of mandible with age and gender. Materials & Methods: Study Comprises randomly selected 200 OPG (100 male, 100 Female) dentate age range from 11 to 80 years from Oral Medicine & Radiology Department. Any defect, anomaly were ruled out. Sample was divided into seven age groups. Bigonial angle and Gonial Angle were digitally measured. The collected data from the subjects were analysed using the SPSS version 25. Independent t-test, Paired t-test, one-way ANOVA and Discriminant analysis were used for comparison. Parameters were studied according to gender, side and different age groups. Results: Females have significantly larger value of gonial angle than males, but lower bigonial width. (p-value=0.00) Males have low value of gonial angle, but longer bigonial width than female (p-value=0.00).