Morphometric Analysis of Odontometric Parameters for Gender Determination.

Area of Science:

• Forensic Anthropology
• Odontology
• Human Biology

Background:

• Sexual dimorphism in human dentition is well-documented, with males typically exhibiting larger teeth.
• Odontometric parameters display variations within species and across different geographic regions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess sexual dimorphism in four maxillary odontometric parameters: Intercanine Width (ICW), Interpremolar Width (IPW), Arch Length (AL), and Combined Width (CW).
• To quantify the percentage of sexual dimorphism for each parameter, individually and in combination.
• To determine the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of these parameters for sex determination in forensic contexts.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 200 subjects (100 males, 100 females).
• Direct measurement of four key maxillary odontometric parameters: ICW, IPW, AL, and CW.
• Statistical analysis, including discriminant analysis (d-squared test), was applied to the collected data.

Main Results:

• All four measured maxillary odontometric parameters were significantly larger in males compared to females.
• Intercanine Width (ICW) and Interpremolar Width (IPW) showed highly significant differences (p<0.001) indicative of sexual dimorphism.
• Combining parameters, such as ICW and IPW, enhanced the accuracy of sex assessment.

Conclusions:

• Linear odontometric parameters (ICW, IPW, AL, CW) demonstrate significant sexual dimorphism.
• Odontometric analysis provides a simple, reliable, and cost-effective method for sex determination in forensic investigations.