Determination of sex by cone-beam computed tomography analysis of mental foramen in South Indian Population

Abstract

Background: One of the most challenging tasks for forensic dentists and anthropologists has been identification and determination of sex of unknown human skeletal remains. Aim: To determine sexual dimorphism by CBCT (3-D) analysis of mental foramen among the south Indian population. Materials and Methods: Total of 116 CBCT images of subjects were analysed. Distance from the superior border of mental foramen to lower border of mandible (SLM) and the inferior border of mental foramen to lower border of mandible (ILM) were calculated by three examiners and recorded. Statistical Analysis: Descriptive statistics, paired t-test and independent sample t-test were used for statistical comparisons. Results: The mean distance of right SLM among male and female subjects were 17.07±1.64 and 14.92 ± 1.33 respectively. Similarly of the left side of male and female subjects were 13.30 ±1.52 and 11.73± 1. The mean distance of left ILM among male and female subjects were 13.44± 1.68 and 11.79 ± 1.21 respectively and on the left side of male and female subjects were 1.3 ± 1.52 and 11.73 ± 1.27. There was a statistically significant difference between sex and sides in terms of SLM and ILM (P = 0.0001). Conclusion: Distances from mental foramen to the lower border of mandible demonstrates sexual dimorphism.