Carrea's Index and Tooth Dimensions- An Avant-Garde in Stature Estimation: An Observational Study.

Abstract

Identifying victims in case of mass disasters when only human remains are present is quite a challenging task. Although other peripheral extremities of human body are used in estimating stature, in situations where only skull is available, teeth play an important role in personal identification. The present study used Carrea's index in stature estimation using tooth dimensions. This study is intended to correlate the anterior mandibular tooth dimensions with that of real stature using Carrea's index and also to know the applicability and validity of this index to the current study population. A total of 82 subjects (both males and females) which makes 164 hemiarches (normal, crowded and diastema) were included. Actual height of each subject was measured using anthropometer and tooth measurements from each cast were recorded and analyzed using Carrea's index. The results showed a strong correlation between estimated stature and real stature. Moreover, this correlation is more valid on male sample and right side of the inferior hemiarches (Normal-81.8% and 87.2%; Crowded-76.4% and 80%; Diastema-52.9% and 60% respectively). Although a correlation between actual stature and estimated stature was established, Carrea's index as a predictor tool may not give accurate estimations. Nevertheless, it could only act as an auxiliary tool in person identification.