The Gonial Angle as a Predictive Marker of Mandibular Fossa Depth: A Diagnostic Accuracy Study

Purpose: The aim of the study is to evaluate the relationship between submandibular fossa depth and gonial angle measurements in cone beam computed tomography examinations in terms of dental implant applications and whether the results can be transferred to panoramic radiographs. Methods Cone-beam computed tomography images of 51 dry human mandibles were included. Gonial angle and fossa depths were determined and evaluated separately for left and right sides. Gonial angle was measured on Cone-beam computed tomography images as the angle between the tangent line drawn posterior to the border of the ramus of the mandible and the tangent line drawn to the lower border of the mandible. Determination of the submandibular fossa depth was made with a line was drawn to connect the most dislocated upper and lower points on the inner surface of the mandible in the coronal plane sections, and the length of the line drawn at a right angle from the deepest point of the fossa to this line. Measurements were made separately for left and right sides. Results No statistically significant correlation was found between the angle measurement and the depth measurements from the left and right sides. There was no statistically significant correlation between mean angle measurement and mean depth measurement. No statistically significant correlation was found between all angle measurements and all depth measurements. Conclusion The mandibular gonial angle is not a suitable marker to be used to predict the depth of the submandibular fossa on panoramic radiographs.