Morphometric anlaysis of mandibular coronoid, condyle and sigmoid shape using panoromic view for personal identification in south Indian population

OBJECTIVE: The shape of the condyle, coronoid, and the intervening sigmoid notch is unique due to attachments and direction of pull of temporalis muscle, different chewing habits, hormones, etc. So morphometric variation of these mandibular landmarks can be used in individual identification. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was carried out on 500 panoramic view images. Visual tracing assisted assessment of thousand sides (left and right) was done. Sexual dimorphism of left and right mandibular ramus parts (sigmoid notch bordered by coronoid and condylar process). The shape of coronoid process, condyle, and sigmoid notch were interpreted. RESULTS: The most prevalent shape of sigmoid notch was wide variant (41.2%), condyle was convex type (50%) and coronoid was round (53.4%). Condyle and coronoid showed asymmetry between right and left with p-value 0.001 and 0.019, respectively. This study has illustrated that triangular-shaped coronoid was more in females (p-value 0.012). CONCLUSION: Sexual dimorphism is observed in the shape of the mandible due to masticatory activity at the point of insertion of temporalis muscle, biting force, hormones, and various genetic reasons. The results have exemplified that the morphometric variation of condyle, coronoid and sigmoid notch can be used as a tool for personal identification.