Canine Crown Sexual Dimorphism in a Sample of the Modern Croatian Population

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: Jelena Dumančić
• Author: G. Richard Scott
• Author: Ivana Savić Pavičin
• Author: Sandra Anić-Milošević
• Author: Nataša Medančić
• Author: Hrvoje Brkić
• Author's institution: (Zagreb University Hispital Center)
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Dental Medicine
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Dental Medicine

Abstract (english)

Sex assessment is a key part of forensic analysis to establish the identity of unknown deceased individuals. Previous studies have shown that canines are the most dimorphic teeth, but population-specific data are necessary for forensic methods. This study explores sex dimorphism in canine crown dimensions and morphology in a contemporary Croatian population. The material consisted of 302 dental casts (147 females, 155 males) of orthodontic patients and dental students (11–25 years). The distal accessory ridge (DAR) of the upper and lower canines was evaluated using the Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System. Mesiodistal (MD) and buccolingual (BL) crown dimensions were measured on 120 casts. Sex differences in MD and BL dimensions were significant (p < 0.05) for all the canines (upper and lower, left and right), while in DAR only for lower canines (p < 0.000001). When all variables were put into the model, backward stepwise discriminant function analysis isolated lower canine DAR and lower left canine MD as the two independent variables differentiating sex. Using these two variables, a discriminant function formula allowed for sex determination with an accuracy of 73.5%. This study shows that both canine crown morphology and dimensions are useful for sex determination, especially for lower canines. These methods can be applied to children, as lower canines erupt at about 9 years of age.

• Keywords (english): sex identification; forensic dentistry; forensic anthropology; dental anthropology; canine
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review - international
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Dentistry Journal
• Numbering: vol. 11, no. 7, 175
• e-ISSN: 2304-6767
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/dj11070175
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:127:351982
• Publication: 2023-07-18
• Document URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6767/11/7/175
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2025-03-06 11:55:43