Assessment of various odontometric parameters in accuracy of sexual dimorphism

Abstract

Sex identification is one of the most important procedures in the forensics. Teeth are a potential source of information in this process. This study describes sexual dimorphism in various parameters derived from the oral cavity. A total number of 200 subjects in the age range of 17 to 25 years were studied with the help of study casts to study the following parameters for sexual dimorphism- mesio-distal dimension of maxillary central incisor, maxillary first molar, mandibular canine, mandibular first molar; cervico-incisal dimension of maxillary central incisor, bucco-lingual dimensions of mandibular canine and mandibular intercanine width. Sexual dimorphism in the various parameters was assessed using statistical analysis. The p-value, specificity and sensitivity of various parameters were calculated and compared. Results showed mesiodistal diameter of upper and lower molars, cervico-incisal diameter of central incisor and canine index were most accurate parameters for determining sexual dimorphism. Keywords: Dimorphism, Intercanine width, Canine index.