Assessment of the Effect of Dimensions of the Mandibular Ramus and Mental Foramen on Age and Gender Using Digital Panoramic Radiographs: A Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND: A retrospective study is conducted to evaluate the mental foramen size and ramus height using digital panoramic radiograph to see if these parameters could be used to determine a correlation with age and gender in dentate subjects and to show its relevance in forensic odontology. AIM: To determine if there is an interrelation between two mandibular parameters (mental foramen, ramus height) in gender and age assessment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five hundred and forty-five high-quality radiographs of patients aged 20 years and above were selected to see superior and inferior aspects of the mental foramen and the ramus height. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Data obtained were analyzed using the SPSS 20 version software. The mean and standard deviations were calculated for each clinical parameter, and one-way ANOVA statistical test of significance was used to compare superior and inferior aspects of mental foramen and ramus height with age groups and gender for both right and left sides. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Highly significant relationship was observed, and it was also found that as the age advances, the mental foramen and ramus height increase on both the right and left sides; whereas the mental foramen and ramus height increase among males as compared to females on both the right and left sides. CONCLUSION: There were significant changes in the dimensions of mental foramen and ramus height as age advances. The results concluded that ramus height and the mental foramen can be used effectively in the identification of gender using digital panoramic radiography.