Contribution of teeth in human forensic identification--discriminant function sexing odontometrical techniques in Portuguese population.
We investigate the accuracy of odontometric methods in sex determination, using a sample from the Portuguese population. Measurements were made on dental casts using a digital caliper, and various odontometric indexes have been defined using upper incisor and canine teeth. Comparison of the means in both sexes was performed using Student's t-test. Significant differences (p<0.05) were found in all variables except for the "Incisor Index". The canine showed the greatest sexual discriminant characteristics. In the presence of one or both canines the distobuccal-mesiolingual crown diameter and the "Robustness Value" allowed discrimination between sexes in the studied population. We also provide further arguments on the debate on whether sex determination is population specific.
Department of Biomaterials, School of Dentistry, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal. cristiana.pereira@fmd.ul.pt
Cristiana
C
Pereira
Mário
M
Bernardo
Dinis
D
Pestana
Jorge Costa
JC
Santos
Maria Cristina de
MC
Mendonça
D000328:Adult; D019229:Dentition, Permanent; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005260:Female; D005553:Forensic Dentistry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009811:Odontometry; D011174:Portugal; D012727:Sex Characteristics