Assessment of Gender Using Condyle-coronoid Angle and Various Linear Measurements of Mandibular Ramus in South Indian Population: A Digital Panoramic Study

Background: Gender determination is a valuable factor in forensic odontology. Mandible may play a important role in gender estimation as it shows significant dimorphism and is often recovered intact. Mandibular ramus as well as condyle and coronoid have shown sexual dimorphism. Digital panoramic radiographs can be used to determine the age and gender. The purpose of the current study was to measure, compare and evaluate the various measurements of mandibular ramus and as well as to assess their usefulness in gender determination. Materials and Methods: 100 panoramic images ( 50 males and 50 females) of Bagalkot district, Karnataka patients aged (18-58)yrs old were selected. Parameters namely condyle ramus height, coronoid ramus height, condyle coronoid breadth, maximum ramus breadth, minimum ramus breadth, coronoid-condyle angle were taken into consideration, the values were measured and data was analyzed. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software.Results: In the present study all the measurements of the mandibular ramus on digital panoramic radiographs showed a statistically significant difference between both the genders except maximum ramus breadth and coronoid-condylar breadth which shows statistically insignificant results