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Updated: Jun 16, 2026
Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology
Published on: August 22, 2022
Contribution of teeth in human forensic identification--discriminant function sexing odontometrical techniques in
Cristiana Pereira1, Mário Bernardo, Dinis Pestana
1Department of Biomaterials, School of Dentistry, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal. cristiana.pereira@fmd.ul.pt
Abstract:
We investigate the accuracy of odontometric methods in sex determination, using a sample from the Portuguese population. Measurements were made on dental casts using a digital caliper, and various odontometric indexes have been defined using upper incisor and canine teeth. Comparison of the means in both sexes was performed using Student's t-test. Significant differences (p<0.05) were found in all variables except for the "Incisor Index". The canine showed the greatest sexual discriminant characteristics. In the presence of one or both canines the distobuccal-mesiolingual crown diameter and the "Robustness Value" allowed discrimination between sexes in the studied population. We also provide further arguments on the debate on whether sex determination is population specific.
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