Sexual dimorphism based on metric and non-metric parameters of human teeth in a Brazilian population

In forensic contexts, incomplete or fragmented bones are frequently encountered due to post-mortem damage and taphonomic changes, and teeth can be considered a valid and reliable source for sex estimation, as they are among the most resistant structures of the human body. Methods based on metric and non-metric dental traits are commonly used for sex estimation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of sexual dimorphism in a Brazilian population through metric and non-metric analysis of teeth. A total of 73 individuals aged between 18 and 25 years were evaluated. All analyses were conducted on the upper jaw. The metric analysis consisted of obtaining buccolingual and mesiodistal measurements of the clinical crown of the teeth. In addition to measurements for each tooth, the maxillary dental arch perimeter and intercanine distance were also considered. The non-metric analysis consisted of observing and describing traits present or absent in the teeth, using the ASUDAS. Intraobserver error was assessed using the paired t-test and the Dahlberg method. Parametric or non-parametric tests were applied according to the data distribution. The mesiodistal and buccolingual dimensions proved effective for identifying sex differences, except for teeth 12/22 (mesiodistal) and 13/23 (buccolingual). The maxillary dental arch perimeter and intercanine distance were significantly larger in males. Regarding non-metric traits, the results were less significant; only a few teeth presented traits associated with sexual dimorphism: the lingual tubercle (tooth 22), the mesial marginal ridge tubercle (tooth 26), and the hypocone cusp (teeth 17 and 27). It is concluded that the findings, although relevant, should be interpreted with caution, as their consistency still needs to be confirmed. Therefore, additional studies with larger samples from different regions of Brazil are necessary to validate these parameters and consider them reliable in anthropological and forensic contexts.