Odontometric sex assessment from logistic regression analysis

Abstract

Odontometric sex assessment is considered a useful adjunct to more robust predictors such as pelvic and cranial bones, and discriminant function analysis (DA) has been widely applied in dental sex assessment. Logistic regression analysis (LRA) is considered a better alternative, although still untested in odontometric sex prediction. This study examines the use of LRA in dental sex assessment and compares its success to DA. Mesiodistal and buccolingual dimensions of all teeth, except third molars, were obtained on dental stone casts of 105 young adults (52 females, 53 males) using digital caliper. Application of LRA to teeth of both jaws combined and to maxillary and mandibular teeth separately yielded correct sex allocation rates ranging from 76% to 100%, which proved superior to sex assessment using DA (∼52-71%). LRA enabled optimal sex prediction (100%) when all teeth in both the jaws were included. Results were not as accurate when only maxillary (76.2%) or mandibular (84.8%) teeth were used. To assess and compare the use of these multivariate techniques in practical forensic casework, >25% of tooth variables were randomly deleted. LRA still performed better (∼91% sex allocation accuracy vs. 62.9% for DA), indicating that LRA may be superior in its ability to predict sex irrespective of the presence of complete or incomplete sets of dentitions and should be preferred in dental sex assessment. The 100% success rate of LRA in correctly assigning sex is also noteworthy considering that, in general, tooth measurements have yielded sub-optimal sex prediction levels. However, unambiguous sex assessment is possible only when the entire dentition is available and correct sex allocation levels decreases when teeth are missing.

Palatal Rugae for the Construction of Forensic Identification

“…Under the protection of lips, cheeks, tongue, teeth, bones and dentures, palatal rugae can protect against trauma, high temperature and decomposition, and is less susceptible to trauma and injuries (Shetty et al, 2005;Acharya et al, 2011). In the human lifetime, the length of palatal rugae may change but the location maintains unchanged (Bharath et al, 2011).…”

Patterns of palatal rugae as an indicator of identification in young adults of Nepal

“…9,20,22 In our study primary rugae was most commonly observed however did JCMS Nepal 2017;13(2):241-5 Palatal rugae as an indicator of identification not show any significant differences between the genders which is in consistent to the conclusion drawn by Bajracharya et al 10 in Nepalese population, Kapali et al 23 in Austalian Aborigines and Mahabalesh et al 24 in Indian population. Furthermore Acharya et al 25 from a statistical perspective has showed up to 99.2% in identifying gender on analyzing the shape of the palatal rugae. Wavy pattern was the predominant rugae observed in our study which were similar in Australian aborigines, Nepalese and Egyptian population.…”

Establishment of Sexual Dimorphism in North Indian Population by Odontometric Study of Permanent Maxillary Canine

“…Sex determination is an important step in determining the biological profile of unidentified human remains, since a correct result would automatically exclude about half the population in search operations [1]. "Sexual Dimorphism" refers to those differences in size, stature and appearance between male and female that can be applied to dental identification [2].…”