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Sex estimation based on tooth measurements using panoramic radiographs
Cezar Capitaneanu1, Guy Willems1, Reinhilde Jacobs2
1Department of Oral Health Sciences, Forensic Dentistry, KU Leuven and Dentistry, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
International Journal of Legal Medicine
|August 19, 2016
Summary
Dental measurements from panoramic radiographs show some sexual dimorphism, particularly in canines. However, these tooth variables are not accurate enough for forensic sex estimation.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Anthropology
- Dental Radiology
- Human Identification
Background:
- Accurate sex determination is crucial for identifying unknown human remains.
- Dental metrics offer a potential avenue for biological profiling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate sexual dimorphism in permanent teeth using digital measurements from panoramic radiographs.
- To identify tooth measurements predictive of sex for forensic applications.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 200 digital panoramic radiographs (100 males, 100 females).
- Measurement of tooth length and width variables in the upper and lower left quadrants.
- Statistical analysis (univariate and multivariate) to assess sex discriminative value.
Main Results:
- The mandibular and maxillary canines exhibited the most significant sexual dimorphism.
- Tooth length measurements demonstrated the highest discriminative potential.
- Combining variables or ratios did not substantially improve sex discrimination accuracy.
Conclusions:
- The discriminative ability (AUC < 0.80) of the studied dental variables is insufficient for reliable sex estimation in forensic practice.
- Current dental measurements from panoramic radiographs are not recommended for accurate forensic sex determination.
