A Comparative Analysis of Mandibular Ramus and Maxillary Sinus in Sex Determination among the Population of West Godavari, India: A Tool in Forensic Identification

Abstract

Introduction: The application of dental principles to legal issues is known as forensic dentistry. Among the skull’s various bones, mandible is the strongest and most diverse bone and is crucial in determining sex. It is been reported in many studies that maxillary sinus seems to be intact, although other bones may be severely deformed and can be applied to determine sex. Aim: To assess, analyse and compare the morphometric analysis of maxillary sinus and ramus of mandible for gender determination using digital Orthopantamograph (OPG). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study comprising of 64 individual radiographs (32 men and 32 women) were measured for mandibular ramus (maximum ramus width, condylar and coronoid height) and maxillary sinus length, width and compared bilaterally. The results were tabulated and statistically analysed using discriminant functional analysis after the mean values were calculated. Results: In this study, the overall measurements of mandibular ramus were more in males than females whereas maxillary sinus measurements were more in females when compared with males. Condylar length (right and left), width of ramus (right) and width of maxillary sinus (left) were found to have statistical significance in determining the gender (p-value<0.001,0.024,0.024). Length of the condyle showed highest accuracy of 73.8% in gender determination. Conclusion: This study suggests that the mandibular ramus and maxillary sinus measurements using OPG are helpful in dealing forensics, with condylar height being the most accurate indicator for gender determination.

Keywords

• digital orthopantamograph
• forensic dentistry
• gender determination