Abstract
The aging process has an impact on mandibular bone morphology and can therefore affect shape sexual dimorphism. Understanding the effect of senescence on mandibular shape changes is particularly important to correctly estimate the sex of an individual and predict age-related conformational modifications. The purpose of this study was to assess age-related changes in mandibular shape and sexual dimorphism. The study sample comprised 160 Multi Slice Computed Tomography examinations of individuals aged 40 to 79 years. Geometric morphometric analysis of fourteen osteometric landmarks was used to examine sexual dimorphism and patterns of mandibular shape variation with age. Results showed that mandibular sexual dimorphism of shape remained significant with aging. Conformational changes occurred between 50 and 70 years and were different for male and female individuals. Females presented earlier and more marked age-related shape changes than males. These observations suggest that mandibular senescence is a sexually dimorphic process since its onset, rate, and the areas subjected to conformational changes differ from male to female individuals. Senescence-related changes present substantial variability, and further investigation is required to determine precisely the age that marks their onset.
Highlights
The cephalic extremity is a valuable element for adult sexual estimation
Earlier studies have established that the senescence process has an impact on mandibular bone morphology, and that certain areas are more subjected to age-related remodelling, such as the symphysis region, the alveolar ridge, the ramus and the gonial area [3, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19]
The purpose of our work was to analyze the nature of senescence-related shape changes both within and between sexes, and to assess if sexual dimorphism remained significant in the mandible despite these conformational changes, using geometric morphometrics
Summary
The cephalic extremity is a valuable element for adult sexual estimation. Both the facial skeleton and the mandible are highly dimorphic structures and are used in anthropological, archaeological and forensic studies with good classification accuracy rates [1, 2].It is presently known that certain areas of the cephalic extremity undergo resorption with aging, and that among these areas, some present a stronger predisposition to conformational changes [3, 4]. The cephalic extremity is a valuable element for adult sexual estimation. Both the facial skeleton and the mandible are highly dimorphic structures and are used in anthropological, archaeological and forensic studies with good classification accuracy rates [1, 2]. It is presently known that certain areas of the cephalic extremity undergo resorption with aging, and that among these areas, some present a stronger predisposition to conformational changes [3, 4]. The morphology of the cranium and upper facial skeleton is affected by the aging process [5], but these changes are visible in the mid and lower face, and have different effects in male and female individuals.
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