Evaluation of Mandibular Anatomical Formation for Gender Determination in Turkish Population

Abstract

Summary Background/Aim: Gender determination is one of the most challenging tasks in medico-legal research and forensic dentistry. Several skeletal components are investigated for this purpose and the mandible is one of them. The mandible has several specific anatomical features. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of measurements related to the mental foramen, gonial angle and antegonial angle on gender determination using digital panoramic radiographs. Material and Methods: A retrospective study was planned with 150 digital panoramic radiographs (75 males and 75 females, aged between 20 to 49 years). The radiographs were analyzed by dividing them into two equal gender groups (male and female). Several parameters were compared to determine the gender. The distances from the superior and inferior border of the mental foramen to the basis of the mandible on the right side were measured. Gonial and antegonial angles were evaluated bilaterally. The difference between the males and females were analyzed with independent samples t-test (p<0.05). Results: There was statistically significant difference between the males and females in terms of all the evaluated parameters (p<0.05). The distances related to mental foramen is higher in the males however gonial and antegonial angles are larger in the females. Conclusions: The mental foramen position, gonial and antegonial angles can be used to predict the gender in Turkish population.