Gonial Angle by Lateral Cephalogram in Orthodontic Patients of a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: The Gonial angle is an important parameter of the craniofacial complex for growth Patterns prediction. The gonial angle on lateral cephalometric radiograph represents the mandibular morphology concerning mandibular body and ramus. The objective of this study was to find out the mean value of gonial angle in lateral cephalometric radiographs of patients of orthodontic department in a tertiary care center. Methods: The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among patients from the Department of Orthodontics at People's Dental College and Hospital between 8th December 2020 to 8th February 2021 at People's Dental College and Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal after obtaining Ethical approval (Reference Number. 01, CH100 09,2077/2078) by the Institutional Review Committee. A convenience sampling technique was used to collect 166 pre-treatment lateral cephalograms radiographs of patients between 17-30 years. Data were collected and entered using Statistical Package of Social Science 16. Results: The mean value of gonial angle on lateral cephalogram radiographs was 132.84 +/- 3.70 in hyperdivergent, 119.94 +/- 5.57 in hypodivergent and 124.06 +/- 3.88 in normodivergent vertical skeletal patterns and between male and female were 132.52 +/- 4.32, 133.07 +/- 3.28 in hyperdivergent, 121.46 +/- 3.78, 119.14 +/- 6.42 in hypodivergent and 123.74 +/- 5.14, 123.94 +/- 3.90 in normodivergent vertical skeletal patterns of Orthodontic Patients. Conclusions: The gonial angle value on lateral cephalometric radiographs was greater in hyperdivergent than hypodivergent and normodivergent vertical skeletal patterns. The hyperdivergent vertical skeletal pattern of female was greater than of male patient's lateral cephalometric radiographs while hypodivergent and normodivergent vertical skeletal patterns of males were greater than female lateral cephalogram radiographs of Nepalese orthodontic patients.