Evaluation of mandibular radiomorphometric indices in panoramic radiography in Iranian population

The aim of this study was to evaluate radiomorphometric indices in dental panoramic radiographs in order to identify possible interrelationships between these indices and the sex and age of the patients analyzed. The study included 379 digital panoramic radiographic images of patients that were grouped into three age groups (1 = age 20-35; 2 = age 35-50; 3 = over age 50). Two indices including cortical width at the gonion (GI) and cortical width at the antigonial (AI) —were measured and manidibular cortical index (MCI) was defined in all panoramic radiographs. Statistical analysis was performed with logestic regression and independent T-tests (alpha = 0. 05). for the indices measurements showed significant differences among patients age groups of both sexes، considering that males over 50 presented lower values for the cortical width of both indices and c2 and c3 were more common in females. The present paper supports the role of sex- and agerelated changes in mandibular radiomorphometric indices in identifying skeletal osteoporosis.