Minimum ramus breadth and coronoid height in gender determination - An orthopantomographic study

Area of Science:

• Forensic Anthropology
• Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology

Background:

• Gender determination is crucial in forensic dentistry and legal investigations.
• The mandible, being the largest, strongest, and sexually dimorphic facial bone, is often utilized for this purpose.
• Orthopantomograms are commonly employed for morphometric analysis of the mandible in gender determination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of minimum ramus breadth and coronoid height of the mandible in gender determination.
• To utilize orthopantomograms for assessing these specific mandibular measurements.

Main Methods:

• Sixty orthopantomograms (30 males, 30 females, aged 30-40) were analyzed.
• Minimum ramus breadth and coronoid height were measured using specialized computer software.
• Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics.

Main Results:

• Both minimum ramus breadth and coronoid height were significantly greater in males compared to females (P=0.00 for both).
• Mean minimum ramus breadth: Males 37.83 ± 2.24 mm, Females 33.08 ± 4.87 mm.
• Mean coronoid height: Males 80.67 ± 0.83 mm, Females 73.51 ± 1.26 mm.

Conclusions:

• The mandible exhibits sexual dimorphism, with minimum ramus breadth and coronoid height being reliable indicators for gender determination.
• Further population-specific studies with larger sample sizes are recommended to validate these findings.