Sex determination in forensic identification, a review

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Anthropology
• Odontology

Background:

• Forensic odontology applies dental principles to legal matters, crucial for human identification.
• Sex determination is vital in forensic investigations, particularly with unidentified or fragmented remains.
• Challenges arise in sex determination from skeletal remains, especially partial recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To familiarize readers with various sex determination methods in forensic odontology.
• To highlight the importance of sex determination in unidentified deceased individuals.
• To review the role of teeth and skull traits in sex determination.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of articles, books, and dissertations from 1950-2015.
• Electronic search using keywords: "sex determination," "forensic dentistry," "sex determination in forensic dentistry."
• Screening of content via titles, abstracts, and full-text analysis.

Main Results:

• Dental evidence, including tooth morphology, crown size, and root length, exhibits sexual dimorphism.
• Skull traits and patterns also present differences between sexes, aiding identification.
• Forensic odontologists can determine sex using these distinct dental and cranial characteristics.

Conclusions:

• Forensic odontology provides reliable methods for sex determination from dental and skeletal evidence.
• Teeth and skull analysis are essential tools for forensic investigators in identification processes.
• Understanding these methods is crucial for accurate identification in diverse forensic scenarios.