A Study of the Angle of the Mandible

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Abstract
The author has studied the angle of mandible measurements of 127 skulls, supplemented by the angle measurements obtained from the radiographs of 135 living persons, a total of 262 measurements. The changes in the angles were investigated from the point of view of age and the condition of the teeth, and the following conclusions were reached: After arranging the angle observations into 3 appropriate age groups and constructing suitable histograms of frequency distribution, the author showed conclusively that the angle does not increase with advancing age. A comparable histogram of a group of edentulous individuals of all ages showed a definite increase in the angle which must be attributed to the loss of the teeth. The mechanics of the moulding of the edentulous mandible by the muscles of mastication is explained. In this connection the author stresses the extremely important: role played by the absorption or non-absorption of the alveolar borders in the mandible and the maxillae. Immediate denture service sometimes prevents the absorption of the alveolar borders and preserves the angle. More often, the alveolar borders are nevertheless absorbed, the angle becomes wider and the mandible lengthens.

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