Employing Dimensional Disparity of Teeth to Establish the Gender in Odisha Population: A Dimorphic Study

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Determination of sex is one of the most important and crucial steps in forensic science. Sexual dimorphism using odontometric analysis is found to vary in different populations making it necessary to attain values of a specific population which helps the identification possible. This present study attempts to establish sexual dimorphism using odontometric analysis in Odisha population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 200 subjects (100 male and 100 female) between ages 18 and 25 years were included in the study. Intraoral Mesiodistal (MD) and Buccolingual (BL) dimensions of 28 teeth (maxillary and mandibular) excluding third molar were taken using digital Vernier calipers. Data were charted and decrypted and statistical analysis was done using SPSS Software version 20. RESULTS: Our study showed larger dimensions of tooth in males when compared to females (maxillary right and left central incisor, 1(st) and 2(nd) molar). Interestingly, reverse dimorphism was also observed in few teeth. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study showed that the linear (MD and BL) dimensions of teeth played a major role in the determination of gender in individuals. The variations or reverse dimorphism could be a result of geographic variations.