Sex estimation using the diagonal diameter measurements of first mandibular molars in a Sudanese sample

Abstract

Sexual identification of immature skeletal remains is still a complicated issue to solve in Forensic Anthropology. Sexual dimorphism is the condition where the two sexes of the same species exhibit different characteristics beyond the differences in their sexual organs. (1) The aim of this study is to evaluate the existence of sexual dimorphism in mandibular first molars. The base sample of the study includes 300 Sudanese (150 males and 150 females). Their ages ranged from 17 to 55. The mesio-buccal (MB) disto-lingual (DL) and the mesio-lingual (ML) disto-buccal (DB) surfaces of the mandibular first molars were measured using a digital Vernier caliper on plaster of Paris study casts. The data was analyzed using the t-test. The results showed statistically significant sexual dimorphisms in male and female odontometric features. The mean values of the parameters were greater in males than in females in both (MBDL and MLDB) with greater sexual dimorphism in the MBDL (MBDL dimorphism =28.672 %) than the MLDB (MLDB dimorphism =21.596 %). Conclusion: Sexual dimorphism of 1st molar teeth can aid in the identification of skeletal remains of Sudanese origin.