Stature and gender determination and their correlation using odontometry and skull anthropometry

The Correlation of Tooth Sizes and Jaw Dimensions with Biological Sex and Stature in a Contemporary Central European Population

Dental anthropology provides a deep insight into biological, ecological and cultural aspects associated with human individuality, behaviour and living conditions and the environment. Our study uses a correlation analysis to test the metric relationships between tooth sizes and jaw dimensions and juxtaposes them with biological sex and stature. A sample of n = 100 dental casts was used to record metric dental data including the mesio-distal and bucco-lingual tooth crown diameters and nine upper and lower jaw dimensions. All crown diameters were highly correlated with both stature and biological sex, with the canines exhibiting the highest correlation. The majority of jaw dimensions exhibited similar correlations. Our results suggest that the differences between the sexes in most crown diameters and some jaw dimensions may be related to the stature of the individuals measured. Two groups of closely correlating features emerged among the jaw dimensions, differing in their degree of correlation with crown diameters and with sex. The results and insights obtained are highly relevant for evolutionary biology, dentistry, craniofacial research, bioarchaeology and forensic odontology.

Applicability of the mandibular canine index for sex estimation: a systematic review

Background

The Mandibular Canine Index (MCI) comprises a method of sex estimation by teeth that presents controversial results in the literature.

Main body

This systematic review aims to expose whether MCI can be used as a method of reliable sex estimation. A literature search was performed using the keywords “canine,” “sex,” “gender,” “determination,” “estimation,” “dimorphism,” “assessment,” “forensic” in the databases Pubmed, Scopus, Lilacs, Scielo, and Web of Science. In addition, manual searches were carried out on the reference lists of the selected articles to cover the largest number of articles of interest as possible. Studies that performed the measurements only on maxillary canines, scientific conferences abstract books, case reports and literature reviews were excluded. The assessment of methodological quality and risk of bias was carried out based on a checklist for cross-sectional studies and another for accuracy studies. Thus, 53 articles were selected, 13 of which were accurate and 40 were cross-sectional. All accuracy articles were assessed as low risk. Among cross-sectional articles, seven were considered to be of low risk, 31 of moderate risk, and two of high risk. The accuracy of the sex estimate by MCI was verified and, despite varying among studies, the minimum and maximum values found were, respectively, 20% and 87.5% for women and 40.6% and 94% for men.

Conclusion

The accuracy of the MCI was variable and should be used with caution and as an auxiliary method of sex estimation.

Stature prediction by comparing maxillary and mandibular intercanine width and intermolar width among tamil nadu population

Background:

Teeth are one of the strongest hard tissues that can resist a variety of antemortem and postmortem insults and an important evidence in the field of medicolegal and forensics. In the identification of unknown human remains of the deceased, stature estimation is a preliminary investigation. Previously, the comparison of osteometry with odontometry in stature determination has been made. Similarly, an attempt is made to estimate stature using intercanine and intermolar width which may be a forensic tool in the future.

Aim and Objective:

The aim of this study was to determine stature using intercanine and intermolar width in the maxillary and mandibular arches and correlating to identify highly reliable parameter among the two. Further to evaluate the usefulness of odontometry in stature determination.

Materials and Methods:

Subjects for the study were recruited from the outpatient department of APDCH and students of APDCH. One hundred subjects were included in the study comprising fifty males and fifty females within the age group of 17–28 years as per inclusion criteria. Digital Vernier caliper for measuring intercanine width (cusp tips on either sides) and intermolar width (central fossa of 1^st molar on either sides) on the study models and standard anthropometer for measuring the height of the subject (vertex to the floor).

Results:

Compared to other parameters, the maxillary intercanine distance is statistically significant to P = 0.05 with correlation value of 0.06 by Pearson correlation method.

Conclusion:

The data collected were subjected to statistical analysis and was found that out of the four selected odontometric parameters, maxillary intercanine width with a P = of 0.032 and Pearson correlation of 0.307 in Group 1 (males) were found to show a significant correlation with height. Regression analysis was done, and regression equations were derived. The following regression equation can be used to calculate the height of an individual, Group 1 (male) −Y = B+ Ax. Y = 135.5 + 0.947X (X - maxillary inter canine width). This method of stature prediction may be of relative importance but not of absolute certainty, thereby making it an adjunct to various other methods of stature prediction. Therefore, using odontometric parameters in combination improves the predictability of estimating stature rather than a single parameter.

Revealing Stature and Facial Proportions from Teeth: An Adjunct to Forensic Science

Background: Teeth and skull remains are often some of the evidences available that can be used reliably for identification in medicolegal cases. Determination of Stature and facial proportions from teeth dimensions have not been utilised fully in the field of forensics. This study was designed with the aim to estimate stature as well as facial proportions from teeth and head measurements. Objectives: To correlate height of an individual to combined mesiodistal width (CMDW) of maxillary anterior teeth and head circumference and to correlate the facial height and facial width to the cervicoincisal and mesiodistal dimensions of maxillary central incisor. Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among 1000 patients of age group 18–30 years of Kerala origin by birth and domicile who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Study variables included length and width of the face, combined mesiodistal (MD) width of maxillary anterior teeth, mesiodistal and cervicoincisal dimension of maxillary central incisor, circumference of the head and height of the individual. The results were statistically analysed using Karl Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Results: Correlation between height and head circumference, height and combined mesiodistal width of maxillary anterior teeth, width of face to mesio-distal width of maxillary central incisor showed significant correlation with p value <0.05, but the correlation coefficients were very weak. But while correlating facial length to cervicoincisal length of maxillary central incisor the values obtained were not statistically significant.

Tooth dimensions and body size in a Pygmy population

Background: The relationship between tooth size and stature has been analysed extensively at the interspecies level but has received less attention at the intraspecies level. The relationship between these two parameters does not seem to be the same among modern human populations.Aim: The aim of this study is to analyse the relationship between tooth dimensions and body measurements in the Baka Pygmies.Subjects and methods: Height, weight, and tooth dimensions were obtained for 45 adult Baka females and 17 males from Le Bosquet (Cameroon). Correlations were obtained between the variables and compared to results for other human populations.Results: The Baka population is distinctive in the small number of significant correlations. Only two buccolingual diameters among Baka females show any significant correlation with height. The lack of significant correlations between tooth dimensions and body dimensions among the Baka means that changes in body size are accompanied by random variations in tooth dimensions.Conclusion: The absence of correlations may be accounted for by the impact of environmental effects on the somatic growth of the Baka producing a Pygmy phenotype adapted to live in the forest. It is worth noting that many correlations become significant when sexes are pooled.

Carrea's Index and Tooth Dimensions- An Avant-Garde in Stature Estimation: An Observational Study

INTRODUCTION

Identifying victims in case of mass disasters when only human remains are present is quite a challenging task. Although other peripheral extremities of human body are used in estimating stature, in situations where only skull is available, teeth play an important role in personal identification. The present study used Carrea's index in stature estimation using tooth dimensions.

AIM

This study is intended to correlate the anterior mandibular tooth dimensions with that of real stature using Carrea's index and also to know the applicability and validity of this index to the current study population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 82 subjects (both males and females) which makes 164 hemiarches (normal, crowded and diastema) were included. Actual height of each subject was measured using anthropometer and tooth measurements from each cast were recorded and analyzed using Carrea's index.

RESULTS

The results showed a strong correlation between estimated stature and real stature. Moreover, this correlation is more valid on male sample and right side of the inferior hemiarches (Normal-81.8% and 87.2%; Crowded-76.4% and 80%; Diastema-52.9% and 60% respectively).

CONCLUSION

Although a correlation between actual stature and estimated stature was established, Carrea's index as a predictor tool may not give accurate estimations. Nevertheless, it could only act as an auxiliary tool in person identification.

Sex estimation based on tooth measurements using panoramic radiographs

BACKGROUND

Sex determination is an important step in establishing the biological profile of unidentified human remains.

AIM

The aims of the study were, firstly, to assess the degree of sexual dimorphism in permanent teeth, based on digital tooth measurements performed on panoramic radiographs. Secondly, to identify sex-related tooth position-specific measurements or combinations of such measurements, and to assess their applicability for potential sex determination.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two hundred digital panoramic radiographs (100 males, 100 females; age range 22-34 years) were retrospectively collected from the dental clinic files of the Dentomaxillofacial Radiology Center of the University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium, and imported in image enhancement software. Tooth length- and width-related variables were measured on all teeth in upper and lower left quadrant, and ratios of variables were calculated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to quantify the sex discriminative value of the tooth position-specific variables and their combinations.

RESULTS

The mandibular and maxillary canine showed the greatest sexual dimorphism, and tooth length variables had the highest discriminative potential. Compared to single variables, combining variables or ratios of variables did not improve substantially the discrimination between males and females.

DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS

Considering that the discriminative ability values (area under the curve (AUC)) were not higher than 0.80, it is not advocated to use the currently studied dental variables for accurate sex estimation in forensic practice.

An Odontometric Approach for Estimation of Stature in Indians: Cross- Sectional Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Height/stature is one of the useful anthropometric parameter for individual identification. Correlation of stature to long bones, even fragmentary bones is frequently reported among various populations. As teeth have the advantage of being composed largely of hard tissue which is relatively indestructible, the careful study of these can enable reliable determination of stature of the person in life.

AIM

The present study was designed to elucidate the anthropometric correlation of tooth dimensions with stature and also devises regression formulae.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was carried out on 361 Indian students (151 males and 210 females) in the age range of 21- 45 years to estimate stature using odontometry. Stature and tooth measurements were taken on each partcipant following standard methods and techniques. Karl Pearson's correlation co-efficient and linear regression was used to estimate stature.

RESULTS

Regression analysis showed that the canine width can aid in estimation of stature as an adjunct when only teeth are available for identification.

CONCLUSION

Tooth dimensions can be used only as a supplementary approach for the estimation of stature but with caution.