Sexual Dimorphism in the Permanent Maxillary First Molar Teeth in the Rajasthan Population

Abstract

Sex estimation in forensic science is an essential step for medicolegal purposes. Teeth are an excellent material for anthropological, odontological, genetic, and forensic investigations as they are known to resist a variety of ante-mortem and post-mortem insults. Sexual dimorphism is an indicator of gender differences that can be observed in several aspects of the human skeleton such as the pelvis, cranium, femur, humerus, canines, and other structures. Maxillary first molars are the first permanent teeth to erupt into the oral cavity at the mean age of 6–7 years and are less commonly impacted as compared to canines. The purpose of this study was to indicate whether sexual dimorphism also exists in the first maxillary molar of humans. To determine the sexual dimorphism in the permanent maxillary first molar teeth using the mesiodistal and buccolingual crown width. The present study was performed on 80 patients from the National Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Jaipur. Mesiodistal and buccolingual width were measured on the basis of intraoral examination and plaster modal with the help of Vernier caliper. Sexual dimorphism (in percentage) was calculated from these measured parameters. The mean values of right and left mesiodistal width and buccolingual width were less for females than for males and the differences were statistically significant for buccolingual width but nonsignificant for mesiodistal width. The sexual dimorphism was slightly greater on the right side than the left side. Buccolingual width of right maxillary molar teeth shows maximum sexual dimorphism among all measurements (both intraoral 5.13% and cast 5.18%). This study signifies the possible role of morphometric study of canine teeth in estimation of gender and it can be used in forensic investigations where gender determination of skeletal remains is difficult. Sharma S, Sharma S. Sexual Dimorphism in the Permanent Maxillary First Molar Teeth in the Rajasthan Population. J Mahatma Gandhi Univ Med Sci Tech 2020;5(1):4–8.