[Sex determination with a discriminant function analysis of deciduous teeth size in plaster models]

Area of Science:

• Forensic Anthropology
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Human Biology

Background:

• Accurate sex determination is crucial in forensic and anthropological contexts.
• Deciduous teeth provide valuable data, especially in younger populations.
• Existing methods may have limitations in specific age groups or sample types.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate sex determination formulas based on deciduous tooth measurements in Japanese children.
• To identify the most reliable dental measurements for sex determination.
• To create practical formulas for sex determination using limited measurements.

Main Methods:

• Plaster models of deciduous teeth from 194 Japanese children (3-year-olds) were used.
• Measurements included crown length, width, and thickness of 10 teeth (5 maxillary, 5 mandibular).
• Statistical analyses, including discriminant analysis, were employed to derive and test sex determination formulas.

Main Results:

• Mean values for most dental measurements were significantly greater in males than females.
• 28 out of 30 measurements showed significant sex-based differences.
• Accuracy rates for sex determination ranged from 67.0% to 78.6% depending on the formula used.

Conclusions:

• Deciduous tooth dimensions, especially crown width and thickness, can be utilized for sex determination in Japanese children.
• Practical formulas derived from limited measurements offer viable alternatives when crown length is unreliable.
• These findings contribute to forensic and anthropological methods for estimating sex from dental evidence.