Digital odontometric analysis for sex estimation in Egyptian adolescents

Reliable sex estimation using dental metrics has important implications for clinical assessment and forensic identification, particularly in adolescents where skeletal indicators may be limited. This study aimed to validate the accuracy and clinical applicability of a digital odontometric model for sex estimation in an Egyptian adolescent population.

A total of 150 dental casts from individuals aged 12-19 years were digitized using a high-resolution three-dimensional scanner. Mesiodistal and buccolingual dimensions of the permanent first molars, mesiodistal widths of the maxillary canines, and intercanine, interpremolar, and intermolar arch widths were obtained using Facad Ortho tracing software. Statistical comparisons between sexes were performed, and discriminant function analysis was applied to construct and validate a predictive model for sex estimation.

All measured parameters demonstrated significantly higher mean values in males compared with females (p < 0.05). The buccolingual and mesiodistal dimensions of the maxillary first molar exhibited the greatest sexual dimorphism (26.95% and 25.98%, respectively). The developed discriminant function model achieved a prediction accuracy of 97.8% for males and 100% for females.

Digital odontometric analysis provides a promising approach for assessing sexual dimorphism in adolescents, pending external validation. This promising model may serve as a reliable adjunct for clinical evaluation and forensic identification within population-specific contexts pending further multicenter validation.

Digital measurement of tooth and arch dimensions enables objective, standardized assessment of sex-related differences, supporting its integration into orthodontic diagnostics, treatment planning, and forensic casework where conventional skeletal indicators may be unavailable or inconclusive.