SEXUAL DIMORPHISM IN MANDIBULAR CANINE INDEX (MCI) FOR WESTERN UTTAR PARDESH (ALIGARH) POPULATION

Dr. Juhi Gupta*, Dr. Anshul Agarwal and Dr. Kausar J. khwaja

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Identification of living persons and the dead bodies is an important aspect of forensic medicine. Establishing sex of an individual is one of the important aspects of establishing identity of an individual. Sexual dimorphism exists in the dimensions of teeth and inter-arch widths specially inter canine width. Among all teeth mandibular canines show maximum sexual dimorphism and can be used to determine the sex of an individual. Aims and Objective: To evaluate the sexual dimorphism in mandibular canine index for a North Indian population and validate its use in forensic science in determining sex of an unknown individual. Material and Method: 150 individual (75 males and 75 females) as per inclusion criteria were included in our study. Alginate impressions were made for madibular arch. Study cast were made with dental stone and inter canine width and mesio-distal width were recorded using manual vernier caliper. Results: Data obtained were subjected to paired t test. The level of accuracy in gender determination was found to be 79% for right mandibular canine index and 75% for left mandibular canine index. Conclusion: Mandibular canine index is a quick, easy and reliable indicator of sex of an unknown individual. If population specific formula is available it can be used as an adjunct for other methods of sex determination.

Keywords: sexual dimorphism, mandibular canine index, mrsio-distal width of canine; inter canine distance.