International Journal of Forensic Odontology

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year
: 2018  |  Volume : 3  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 80--85

Sexual dimorphism using odontometrics among the pediatric population of Erode district: A population study


S Shankar1, Madhavan Nirmal2, MB Aswathnarayanan3, M Kruthika4,  
1 Department of Public Health Dentistry, Vivekanadha Dental College for Women, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, India
2 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Rajah Muthiah Dental College and Hospital, Chidhambaram, Tamil Nadu, India
3 Department of Public Health Dentistry, Tamilnadu Government Dental College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
4 Department of Pedodontic and Preventive Dentistry, Vinayaka Missions Sankarachariar Dental College and Hospital, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India

Correspondence Address:
Dr. S Shankar
Department of Public Health Dentistry, Vivekanadha Dental College for Women, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu
India

Abstract

Background: Forensic science often uses the skeletal, dental remains as sources for human identification. Sexual dimorphism is the systematic difference in form between males and females of the same species. This study is designed to compute a new formula for sex determination using discriminant function analysis in the deciduous crown dimensions of a paediatric population of Erode district. Methodology: The sample consisted of 146 females and 218 males of South Indian origin aged between 3 and 5 years. Alginate impressions of the upper and lower dental arch were made and casts were poured immediately. A digital vernier calliper was used to obtain measurements. Teeth considered for measurement were all deciduous teeth. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Science version 21.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: By using the Student t-test, the different predictor variables of teeth selected between male and females were found to be significant (P < 0.05). Significant sexual dimorphism was found in Lower canine Bucco lingual (LCBL), Upper central incisor Bucco lingual (UCIBL), Upper 2nd molar Bucco lingual (UM2BL) and Upper lateral incisor Distal (ULIMD). Conclusion: The formula derived from the present study could be of great value in sex determination of paediatric populations of Erode district.



How to cite this article:
Shankar S, Nirmal M, Aswathnarayanan M B, Kruthika M. Sexual dimorphism using odontometrics among the pediatric population of Erode district: A population study.Int J Forensic Odontol 2018;3:80-85


How to cite this URL:
Shankar S, Nirmal M, Aswathnarayanan M B, Kruthika M. Sexual dimorphism using odontometrics among the pediatric population of Erode district: A population study. Int J Forensic Odontol [serial online] 2018 [cited 2024 Mar 29 ];3:80-85
Available from: https://www.ijofo.org/text.asp?2018/3/2/80/245304


Full Text



 Introduction



Forensic science often uses the skeletal, dental remains as sources for human identification; in particular, the teeth are unique as they are always protected in a hard casting.[1] They are tissues characterized by structures with extraordinary resistance to putrefaction and effects of external agents that cause destruction of soft tissues of the body. Hence, teeth form an excellent structure for forensic investigation.[2]

Sexual dimorphism is the systematic difference in form between males and females of the same species. Identification of sex is more significant in narrowing down a victim. It allows the exclusion of one-half of the population, thereby aiding a more precise search for the identity of the deceased.[3]

Sexual dimorphism in the dental tissue is of monumental value to the physical anthropologist due to its applications in forensic identification.[4] Odontometric data provide insignificant trait differences among and within a population but form a stronger evidence for identification purposes.[5]

These differences not only reflect the ongoing process of evolution and provide a method for studying the evolutionary mechanism but also represent the variation that must be considered in the daily care of patients.[6]

Conventionally, mesiodistal (MD) and buccolingual (BL) diameters of the crowns of teeth form the basis for assessing sex differences. Several studies have been conducted, which demonstrated significant sexual dimorphism in dimensions of permanent[7],[8],[9],[10],[11] and deciduous crowns using diagnostic dental casts.[12],[13],[14],[15],[16],[17],[18]

This study emphasizes the importance of teeth in sexual dimorphism for the following reasons: (1) the pelvis, which is the most precise structural indicator, may be fragmented, (2) sex characteristics in pediatric bone are not fully developed and (3) DNA analysis can give precise results but is expensive and relatively time-consuming.[19]

If sexual dimorphism in deciduous dentition is proved for its significance in sex determination like permanent dentition,[7],[8],[9],[10],[11] then, it could be useful to precisely identify the sex of the children. Deciduous dentition-based studies have been carried out by Black TK,[20] De Vito and Saunders,[21] and Zadzinska et al.;[22] they have published a series of discriminant functions for sex determination. On a thorough search of the literature in the English language, there is, however, no such evidence explored in the Indian population for deciduous dentition.

The magnitude and pattern of sexual dimorphism in the size of teeth differ from one population to another. Hence, there is a need for finding out differences in the odontometric parameters in deciduous dentition among males and females of Indian natives with discriminant function, which may aid in establishing sex in juveniles.

MD, BL, and the diagonal measurements of deciduous teeth of canines and molars were recorded in previous studies.[20],[21],[22],[23],[24],[25] However, the present study considered all the teeth with intercanine width (ICW) and intermolar width as a predictor variable in determining sex, and it was applicable in deriving the discriminant functions. To the best of our knowledge, this is a maiden attempt. The present study aimed to compute a new formula using discriminant function analysis and to verify the accuracy of such methods in sex determination from deciduous dentition in children of Erode district from South Indian origin.

 Materials and Methods



Sample selection

The study sample consisted of 364 children who were selected from 940 subjects aged between 3 and 5 years of South Indian origin by simple random sampling method. Among the selected 146 were girls and 218 were boys. The sample for the study included teeth that were fully erupted which had no caries, restorations, or any history of orthodontic treatment and subjects with full complement of deciduous dentition was only considered others who were excluded from the study. The study was approved by the Institutional Ethical Committee, Namakkal district, Tamilnadu state, India.

Procedures and parameters

Alginate impressions (Tropicalgin, Zhermack Clinical, New Jersey, U. S. A.) of both the upper and lower dental arch were made using perforated trays and casts were poured immediately with type IV dental stone. A digital vernier caliper calibrated to an accuracy of. 01 mm (Mitutoyo Absolute Digimatic Sliding Caliper, Tokyo, Japan, 05 mm resolution) was used for obtaining the measurements. All the 20 deciduous teeth in the upper and lower arch were considered for measurements [Figure 1].{Figure 1}

The incisors and canines were measured in two dimensions, the MD diameter and the BL diameter, and the molars in four different dimensions which included the MD diameter, the BL diameter along with the diagonal measurements such as mesiobuccal to distolingual (MBDL) diameter and distobuccal to mesiolingual (DBML) diameter. Two more measurements such as ICW and intermolar width for both first and second molar were recorded. For both upper and lower arches, the mean value was taken for left and right side and entered as one value for each tooth. All measurements were recorded by one of the investigators, and calibration was done by the senior author. For a rotated or malposed tooth, the measurement was made between points on the proximal surfaces of the crown where it was perceived that contact with the adjacent teeth would normally occur. A total of 34 parameters were used as a predictor variable which includes 17 variables for maxillary and mandibular arches, respectively.

The 17 variables included were MD and BL measurements of central incisor (CI), lateral incisor (LI), canine (Ca), first molar (D), and second molar (E) which accounted for 10 variables. Two diagonal measurements such as MBDL diameter and DBML diameter were recorded for both first molar (D) and second molar (E). ICW, intermolar width at first molar and intermolar width at second molar were also recorded which accounted for the other 7 variables.

Reliability measures

To estimate intraobserver variability, a second determination was made after 2 months by the same investigator. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to access the intraobserver variability. The ICC for all the measurements was 0.896 (93% confidence interval: 0.872–0.92), indicating that the difference attributed to the measurement error was very small or practically nonexistent.

Statistical analysis

Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Science version 17.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) was computed for each variable, and Student's t-test was used to determine if statistically significant differences existed between the sexes. The level of significance was kept at P < 0.05. All the predictor variables were subjected to stepwise discriminant function analysis, which has the potential to optimally separate the sexes; further the statistical significance was assessed using Wilks' lambda. The variables having the higher discriminant function coefficient were included in the discriminant function for developing the formula.

DFS = C + df1x1 + df2x2+... + dfnxn

Where DFS is the discriminant function score, df is the discriminant function coefficient, x is the score of the predictor variable, n is the sample size, and C is the discriminant function constant.

 Results



The intraobserver reliability calculated during the second examination after 2 months revealed the ICC value to be 0.896. Hence, the measurements made at two different points showed negligible difference. Therefore, the initial measurements were taken into consideration for calculation.

In the observed mean dimensions, male values were higher than the female values except for certain parameters. The different predictor variables of teeth selected between male and females were subjected to Student's t-test and the significant (P < 0.05). Statistically significant difference was found among four parameters. The parameters were upper 2nd molar BL (UM2BL), upper 1st molar intermolar width, lower canine BL (LCBL) BP, and lower 1st molar DBML [Table 1].{Table 1}

A stepwise discriminant function analysis was performed for all the predictor variables by enter method. At each step, the variable that minimizes the overall Wilks' Lambda is entered with a maximum of 68 steps. Out of these, only four parameters were qualified for functional analysis which included LCBL, upper CI BL (UCIBL), and BP (UM2BL and ULIMD [Table 2].{Table 2}

Further, the parameters included in the functional analysis were checked for stepwise entry of Wilk's Lambda and assessed for its significance, and it was also found that they were highly statistically significant with P < 0.005 [Table 3]. The overall Wilk's Lambda for all the predictor variables were calculated and it showed a very high statistically significant value among the parameters with P < 0.001 [Table 4].{Table 3}{Table 4}

[Table 5] shows the conical discriminant function coefficient values for the predictor variables which entered the functional analysis by Wilk's Lambda and the corresponding discriminant function constant.{Table 5}

The discriminant analysis produced the best discriminant functions and the predictor variables included in the functions were Lower canine Bucco lingual (LCBL), Upper central incisor Bucco lingual (UCIBL), Upper 2nd molar Bucco lingual (UM2BL), and Upper lateral incisor Mesio Distal (ULIMD) based on the greatest univariate discriminant coefficient [Table 5]. Before the formula was calculated with the greatest univariate discriminant coefficient, the predictor variables were subjected to a test of significance using Wilks' lambda. It was found that the entire assigned predictor variables showed statistical significance at P < 0.05 [Table 4].

The best discriminant function was

DFS = −12.553–1.277 (UCIBL) + 0.879 (ULIMD) + 1.080 (UM2BL) +0.824 (LCBL)

From the stepwise discriminant analysis, the group centroid was also generated for both the sexes. A group centroid is the mean discriminant score for each sex. A cut-off point, which separates one sex from the other, is the average of the two centroids; a smaller value than this is considered as a female and vice versa. The cut-off point between the sexes was −0.082. The male group centroid was 0.324 and the female group centroid was -0.488 [Table 6]. Raw coefficients, the discriminant function coefficients, were used to calculate the discriminant score.{Table 6}

The value obtained using discriminant function for the casts of males and females is calculated, respectively. Hence, it shows that this discriminant function formula can accurately identify sexual dimorphism in this population. To assess whether it is possible to generate accurate sex models from the data collected for this study, discriminant functions were calculated and tested using cross-validation. This was performed using SPSS software and the leave-one-out method was chosen to calculate the cross-validation error rate [Table 7].{Table 7}

The discriminant function used in the present study describes the optimal separation between the sexes and also shows that there are significant variations between them and it is substantiated by classification accuracy of functions provided in [Table 7]. Hence, the original grouped cases correctly classified were 88.15%.

 Discussion



Sexual dimorphism in the size of deciduous dentition varies population to population, and hence, the criteria set for one population may not be applicable to another. Considering the fact that there are differences in odontometric features in specific populations, even within the same population in the historical and evolutional perspective, it is necessary to determine precise population values to make identification possible on the basis of dental measurements. These values can be of use in determining sex in specific cases: in individuals as well as in groups (mass disasters and archeological sites).[24]

The coronal morphology and dimension of a deciduous dentition remain unchanged during growth and development except for specific conditions such as nutritional abnormality, inherited disorders, and other pathological conditions. Hence, odontometric features can be used in determining the sex after the tooth has erupted even in child skeletons or samples whose skeletal features are not defined.[26]

The study of dental stone models has been in use in forensic odontology for a very long time. The accessibility to measure various dimensions using geometric devices is simpler and easier using dental stone models rather than direct intraoral measurements. Dental stone models serve a greater purpose for the diagonal and intra-arch measurements in particular.

When it is difficult to measure the MD width of the anterior teeth, diagonal measurements may be a reliable alternative.[27] In the present study, we considered the diagonal and intra-arch measurements also as a predictor variable in determining the sex. Hence, this variable will be of greater use in sex determination when malpositions such as tooth rotation, crowding, and orthodontical anomalies may cause difficulty in recording width measurements. This is a maiden study in using the intra-arch measurements in deciduous dentition for sex determination.

The limitations associated with the previous studies were that they have not included all the teeth and jaws; however, here in this current study, both upper and lower jaws with all the teeth are considered.

In the present study, it has been identified that significant sex differences exist in odontometric features of upper compared to the lower deciduous teeth. It was also found that these differences were large enough to determine the sex with classification accuracy between 85.0% and 83.7% from cross-validation of discriminant function analysis for male and female, respectively, when using all the parameters explained in the methodology.

In the present study, BL dimension contributes more to the sexual dimorphism compared to other parameters, that is, BL of upper CI and second molar as well as BP of lower canine. MD dimension of upper LI also significantly contributed to the same. This finding was entirely different from the study conducted in a south Indian population, where MD dimension of upper second molars, BL dimension of upper canine, and other diagonal measurements contribute more to sexual dimorphism compared to the current study.[24]

The equation developed by this study ranges in accuracy from 85% to 83.7%. This was considerably higher when compared to that developed by Black,[20] DeVito and Saunders[21] and Zadzinska et al.[22] with 33.3 to 75%, 35.7 to 45.9% and 38.5 to 73.3%, respectively and similar to the study conducted by Shankar S et al.[23]

This shows that the present study provides robust evidence to identify the sex in a paediatric population using its formula. The tooth that shows the greatest degree of sexual dimorphism was not the same when different studies were analysed. For example, in studies by Margretts and Brown,[12] Black[20] and Zadzinska et al.,[22] it is the BL dimension of the mandibular first molar, whereas in a study by Cardoso,[28] it is the MD dimension of the mandibular second molar that shows the greatest degree of sexual dimorphism compared to the present study where the BP dimension of the maxillary CI and second molar with BP dimension of mandibular canine shows the greatest percentage of sexual dimorphism.

Such population variations may result from differences in the quality of environment during growth and development, particularly maternal health, which may influence tooth size. Garn et al.[29] have revealed that children with low birth weight and low birth length show notably smaller deciduous tooth crowns. Similarly, Seow and Wan[30] have shown the smallest deciduous crown dimensions in very low birth weight children compared to normal birth weight children who show the largest, with the low birth weight revealing intermediate dimensions. Poor environmental conditions during prenatal life, in addition to reducing overall tooth crown size, also diminish sex differences, with males being affected most remarkably.

 Conclusion



The present study elicits the fact that the level of sexual dimorphism in deciduous crown dimensions of an Indian population is sufficiently large enough for determining sex to an accuracy of 83.7%–85% from discriminant function analysis using all variables. Hence, the discriminant function derived would help in sex determination in a pediatric population of South Indian origin by substituting the odontometric values in the function and referring it to the cut-off point which discriminates the sex.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

References

1Seno M, Ishizu H. Sex identification of human tooth. Int J Forensic Dent 1973;1:8-11.
2Astete JC. Sexual dimorphism in the tooth dimensions of Spanish and Chilean peoples. Int J Odontostomat 2009;3:47-50.
3Camps FE. Gradwohl's legal medicine. 3rd ed. Wright and Son, Bristol John; Australia, 1976.
4Taylor RMS. Variation in morphology of teeth: anthropologic and forensic aspects. Springfield: Illinois; 1978.
5Bailit HL. Dental variation among populations-an anthropologic view. Dent Clin North Am 1975;19:125-39.
6Yuen KK, So LL, Tang EL. Mesiodistal crown diameters of the primary and permanent teeth in southern Chinese - a longitudinal study. Eur J Orthod 1997;19:721-31.
7Jensen E, Yen PK, Moorrees CF, Thomsen SO. Mesiodistal crown diameters of the deciduous and permanent teeth in individuals. J Dent Res 1957;36:39-47.
8Stroud JL, Buschang PH, Goaz PW. Sexual dimorphism in mesiodistal dentin and enamel thickness. Dentomaxillofac Radiol 1994;23:169-71.
9Hillson SW. Dental anthropology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 1996.
10Schwartz GT, Dean MC. Sexual dimorphism in modern human permanent teeth. Am J Phys Anthropol 2005;128:312-7.
11Ditch LE, Rose JC. A multivariate dental sexing technique. Am J Phys Anthropol 1972;37:61-4.
12Margetts B, Brown T. Crown diameters of the deciduous teeth in Australian Aboriginals. Am J Phys Anthropol 1978;48:493-502.
13Lysell L, Myrberg N. Mesiodistal tooth size in the deciduous and permanent dentitions. Eur J Orthod 1982;4:113-22.
14Axelsson G, Kirveskari P. Crown size of deciduous teeth in Icelanders. Acta Odontol Scand 1984;42:339-43.
15Farmer V, Townsend G. Crown size variability in the deciduous dentition of South Australian children. Am J Human Biol 1993;5:681-90.
16Kuswandari S, Nishino M. The mesiodistal crown diameters of primary dentition in Indonesian Javanese children. Arch Oral Biol 2004;49:217-22.
17Harris EF, Lease LR. Mesiodistal tooth crown dimensions of the primary dentition: A worldwide survey. Am J Phys Anthropol 2005;128:593-607.
18Clinch LM. A longitudinal study of the mediodistal crown diameters of the deciduous teeth and their permanent successors. Eur J Orthod 2007;29(Suppl.1):i75-81.
19Vodanoic M, Demo Z, Njemirovskij V. Odontometrics: a useful method for sex determination in an archeological skeletal population? J Archeological Sci 2007;34:905-13.
20Black TK. Sexual dimorphism in the tooth-crown diameters of the deciduous teeth. Am J Phys Anthropol 1978;48:77-82.
21DeVito C, Saunders SR. A discriminant function analysis of deciduous teeth to determine sex. J Forensic Sci 1990;35:845-58.
22Zadzinska E, Karasinska M, Jedrychowska-Danska K, Watala C, Witas HW. Sex diagnosis of subadult specimens from Medieval Polish archaeological sites: metric analysis of deciduous dentition. Homo 2008;59:175-87.
23Shankar S, Anuthama K, Kruthika M, Suresh Kumar V, Ramesh K, Jaheerdeen A, et al. Identifying sexual dimorphism in a paediatric South Indian population using stepwise discriminant function analysis. J Forensic Leg Med 2013;20:752-6.
24Iscan MY, Kedici PS. Sexual variation in bucco-lingual dimensions in Turkish dentition. Forensic Sci Int 2003;137:160-4.
25Teschler-Nicola M, Prossinger H. Sex determination using tooth dimensions. In: Alt KW, Rosing FW, Teschler-Nicola M, editors. Dental anthropology, fundamentals, limits and prospects. Wien: Springer-Verlag; 1998. p. 479-501.
26Karaman F. Use of diagonal teeth measurements in predicting gender in a Turkish population. J Forensic Sci 2006;51:630-5.
27Bravo N, Facal M, Maroto M, Barbería E. Relationship between mesiodistal crown diameters of permanent first molars and deciduous second molars. Eur J Paediatr Dent 2010;11:115-21.
28Cardoso HF. Testing discriminant functions for sex determination from deciduous teeth. J Forensic Sci 2010;55:1557-60.
29Garn SM, Osbome RH, McCabe KD. The effect of prenatal factors on crown dimensions. Am J Phys Anthropol 1979;51:665-78.
30Seow WK, Wan A. A controlled study of the morphometric changes in the primary dentition of pre-term, very-low-birthweight children. J Dent Res 2000;79:63-9.