Quantifying the potential of morphological parameters for human dental identification: part 3—selecting the strongest skeletal identifiers in the mandible

Abstract

The current study aimed to select the best mandibular morphological identifiers.One hundred eighty-five panoramic radiographs were retrospectively collected, in which four landmarks were located on the mandible: the most superior point of the condyle right/left (CONR/L), of the coronoid right/left (CORR/L), of the mandibular lingula right/left (LINR/L), and the most mesial point of the mental foramen right/left (MMFR/L). Five linear measurements, 6 angles and 10 ratios were measured bilaterally. Three groups of statistics were considered: (1) mean potential set; (2) inter-observer agreement quantified by intra-class correlation (ICC) and within-subject coefficient of variation (WSCV); (3) Spearman correlation. Parameters were selected for a step-by-step cascade.In a univariate approach, the following parameters proved to have the best identifying capacity: ratio 3 right (between lines CONR -CORR and LINR -MMFR) with mean potential set 13%, ICC 0.90, WSCV 4.8%; ratio 4 (between lines CONR/L -CORR/L and MMFR -MMFL) with mean potential set 13%, ICC 0.92, WSCV 8.9%; and angle 4 left (between landmarks LINL, MMFL and MMFR) with mean potential set of 18%, ICC 0.91, WSCV 1.2%. The correlation coefficients ranged from 0.01 to 0.33. In a multivariate approach, the identifying capacity improved drastically, with all ratios combined as the strongest identifier (mean potential set 1.29%).In conclusion, a single ratio or a single angle already narrows down the set of potential matches, but the mean potential set remains relatively large. Combining all ratios drastically increases the certainty of the match.

Forensic Gender Determination by Using Mandibular Morphometric Indices an Iranian Population: A Panoramic Radiographic Cross-Sectional Study

“…A few studies are available regarding some of these indices, such as the study by Iliescu et al [ 23 ], who assessed several linear, angular, and relative parameters in the mandible and showed their high potential for gender determination. Rad et al [ 18 ] evaluated some of these factors in an Iranian population and found that all of them were significantly different between males and females, including the gonial angle.…”

“… Distance between the superior border of the mental foramen and the inferior border of the ramus ( Figure 1 H) [ 22 ]. Distance between the inferior border of the mental foramen and the inferior border of the ramus ( Figure 1 I) [ 23 ]. …”

“…Distance between the inferior border of the mental foramen and the inferior border of the ramus ( Figure 1 I) [ 23 ].…”