ANTHROPOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE MANDIBLE USING COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY AS A DETERMINANT OF SEXUAL DIMORPHISM: AN ALTERNATIVE IN FORENSIC DENTISTRY

Abstract

The process of human identification in the forensic area is fundamental in several circumstances, especially mass accidents and tragedies. Forensic dentistry plays an important role in this environment, with the use of modern technologies such as cone beam computed tomography for the investigation of determining parameters in the identification of sex. The objective of this article was to analyze whether it is possible to identify the sex of patients from the mandible, analyzing morphological and morphometric patterns predominant in males and females. This study used a sample of 100 cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans, 50 male and 50 female. CBCT scans were analyzed using the RadiAnt DICOM® software in the 3D tool, visualizing three morphological patterns and nine morphometric patterns. With results of almost 100% accuracy, this study reveals that it is possible to identify sexual dimorphism through mandibles. The morphological patterns of chin shape, muscle marking, and gonial reflex revealed a marked sexual dimorphism. Morphometric analyses of the mandible measured at different sites and their combinations revealed satisfactory results and can be used to identify sexual dimorphism. Thus, the results of this work may be a useful tool in the forensic practice in diagnoses and recognition of the individual's sex in the forensic area.