GONIAL ANGLES AND CONDYLAR AND RAMUS HEIGHT OF THE MANDIBLE IN COMPLETE DENTURE WEARERS - A PANORAMIC RADIOGRAPH STUDY

It has been accepted that the shape of the mandibular base, and especi ally the genial angle of the mandible, correlates with the function of the jaw closing muscles. The genial angles of the mandible and condyl ar and ramus heights of 30 complete denture wearers (18 women, 12 men, mean age 61 years, range 42-74 years) coming for renewal of their den tures were measured using panoramic radiographs. The mean period of ed entulousness was 26 years (range 10-53 years). No statistically signif icant difference was observed between the sexes in the the sizes of ge nial angles and condylar and ramus heights. The right genial angle was statistically significantly smaller than the left one and correlated negatively with the ramus height in both sides but positively with the increased EMG activity in the right masseter muscle, The size of the genial angle and the condylar and ramus heights did not correlate with the age of the patients, edentulous period or alveolar ridge resorpti on.