Buccolingual dimension of teeth: A sensitive odontometric parameter in gender differentiation

Abstract

Introduction: Determination of sex is important in identification of unknown person. Teeth are a potential source for sex determination due to unique odontologic characteristics. Objectives: To determine the sex of individuals using buccolingual dimensions of permanent teeth except third molars. This study involved 100 native residents of Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra in the age group of 18–40 years. Materials and Methods: The buccolingual (B-L) dimensional measurements of 28 teeth, except third molars, of 50 males and 50 females aged 18–40 years were measured on the study casts using vernier calipers with a resolution of 0.01 mm, and analyzed using discriminant function analysis. Results: Males showed greater B-L dimensions of teeth in comparison to females exhibiting statistically significant dimorphism. However, discriminant function analysis derived accuracy of determination of sex using 26 was 69% and 43 was 66.0%. On the whole, the percentage of overall accuracy was 68%. Conclusion: Application of B-L dimensional variability among males and females in the population of Ahmednagar can aid in forensic sex determination, as this study showed, that can be taken into account for sex determination in combination with skeletal traits and/or other odontometric measurements such as mesiodistal diameters.

Keywords

• Buccolingual sex determination
• sexual dimorphism
• tooth size