Sex determination using linear measurements related to the mental and mandibular foramina vertical positions on digital panoramic images

Abstract

Background: Identification of gender type is a very important issue in forensic dentistry. The mental and mandibularforamina are important anatomic points in the mandibular region. The objective of this study is to predict the validityof the linear measurements related to the mental and mandibular foramina vertical positions on digital panoramicimages in sex determination.Material and method: A total of 300 Iraqi subjects, (150 male and 150 female) were examined, age distribution ofthem was ranging between (20-49) years old. Four linear vertical measurements were performed on the radiographicimage of each subject on both right and left sides of the mandible (600) sides, to evaluate the validity of the linearmeasurements related to the vertical positions of the mental and mandibular foramina in sex determination.Statistically significant differences were observed in all of the linear measurements between genders where malesalmost have higher measurements than females. Sex of the patient could be successfully identified usingmeasurements carried out in this study. Linear measurements that related to the mandibular foramen verticalposition used in this study can be used as best parameters to predict male gender differentiate it from female, whilethe measurements that related to the mental foramen vertical position ranked after in their discriminating abilities