Anthropometrics and odontometrics in gender determination – an observational comparitive study

Background: Sex determination is one of the prime factors employed to assist in the personal identification. It was realized that anthropometric measurements of the hand has been very useful tool in sex determination. Apart from this dental evidence is also considered as valuable tool in sex determination. Aim: This study is intended to correlate the Anthropometric parameters like hand length, hand breadth and Odontometric parameter like mesio-distal dimensions of mandibular canines in gender determination. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 subjects constituting a sample size of 120 (both right and left sides) were included. Hand length is measured as the straight distance from the metacarpophalangeal wrist crease to the most forwardly projecting point on the middle finger. Hand breadthis measured as straight distance from the most laterally placed point on the head of 2nd metacarpal bone to the most medially placed point on the head of 5th metacarpal bone. The mesio-distal dimensions of mandibular canine is measured from mesial aspect of canine to distal aspect of canine on dental cast. Results: All measurements showed significant sexual dimorphism with p-value < 0.05 except the mesio distal dimensions of left mandibular canine with p-value 0.83. Among all parameters Left Hand length had shown high accuracy in sex determination with high mean difference (12.1) between males and females. Conclusion: Hand length, Hand breadth and Right mandibular canine had shown sexual dimorphism and therefore they can be used for sex determination.