GENDER DETERMINATION FROM MEASUREMENTS OF MAXILLARY AND MANDIBULAR DENTAL ARCHES – AN OCCLUSAL RADIOGRAPHIC STUDY

Abstract

Sex estimation is one of the essential parameters for the human Identication in forensic analysis. Resilience of palatal structures and mandible to traumatic and natural forces is useful in several forensic situations. Radiography plays a vital role in forensic dentistry to uncover hidden facts which cannot be seen by means of physical examination. The occlusal radiograph gives a bird's eye view of entire maxillary and mandibular arches, and useful in evaluation of dental arches. To assess the usefulness of linear measurements of maxillary and mandi Aims: bular dental arches on occlusal radiographs for gender determination. The study constituted of 60 subjects Settings And Design: (30 males and 30 females) with age range of 21-30 years. 120 cross sectional maxillary and mandibular occlusal radiographs were taken and traced. Maxillary and mandibular dental arch linear measurements on occlusal radiographs were made related to Inter canine, Inter 1st premolar, Inter 2nd premolar, Inter 1st molar, and Inter 2nd molar widths. Statistical Analysis Used: Independent Student t Test and Discriminant function analysis. The Inter 2nd molar width Results: in both dental arches was the best predictor for gender determination. The Predicted gender model showed a sensitivity of 60% & 70% and specicity of 70% & 60% in the maxillary and mandibular arches respectively with overall accuracy of 65% in both the arches. Conclusion: The present study shows a signicant sexual dimorphism in linear measurements of maxillary and mandibular dental arches and can be very useful for gender determination in forensic science