title: A new approach to sex estimation using the mandibular canine index.
abstract: Rao et al.'s mandibular canine index (MCI) is a simple odontometric method which uses the mandibular canine as the key to sex estimation. This index is defined as the ratio between the right canine mesiodistal dimension and the mandibular canine arch width. The aim of this study was to contribute to sex estimation using dental techniques by analysing the MCI efficiency, and to propose a new approach for its use. Measurements were taken from 120 plaster casts (70 females) in the 16-30 year age group. Although statistically significant sexual dimorphism was observed in both the mesiodistal dimension and the mandibular canine arch width, the MCI showed a low accuracy in sex classification (54.2% correct identifications). This accuracy was improved to 64.2% using receiver operating characteristics curve analysis. Yet, despite the better accuracy, these results reinforce the idea that the MCI may not be particularly useful in sex prediction, since it may not reflect the same degree of sexual dimorphism as its absolute measures.
authors: Faculdade de Medicina Dentária da Universidade do Porto, Portugal.
authors: Ana Margarida
authors: AM
authors: Silva
authors: Faculdade de Medicina Dentária da Universidade do Porto, Portugal EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Portugal.
authors: Maria Lurdes
authors: ML
authors: Pereira
authors: Instituto de Engenharia Electrónica e Informática de Aveiro, Universidade de Aveiro (IEETA/UA), Portugal Centro de Investigação e Desenvolvimento em Matemática e Aplicações (CIDMA/UA), Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal.
authors: Sónia
authors: S
authors: Gouveia
authors: Departamento de Matemática da Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Portugal Centro de Matemática da Universidade do Porto (CMUP/UP), Portugal.
authors: João Nuno
authors: JN
authors: Tavares
authors: Faculdade de Medicina Dentária da Universidade do Porto, Portugal EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Portugal.
authors: Álvaro
authors: Á
authors: Azevedo
authors: Faculdade de Medicina Dentária da Universidade do Porto, Portugal CENCIFOR, Centro de Ciências Forenses, Portugal icaldas@fmd.up.pt.
authors: Inês Morais
authors: IM
authors: Caldas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003481:Cuspid / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D005553:Forensic Dentistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D003765:Models, Dental; D009811:Odontometry; D011174:Portugal; D012372:ROC Curve; D012732:Sex Determination Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ROC curve analysis; forensic odontology; forensic sciences; human identification; mandibular canine index; odontometry; sex estimation