Sex estimation using coronal measurements of permanent canines in a contemporary mestizo population from Manizales, Colombia

YEPES, V.; LUNA, LEANDRO; GOMEZ, L.

Revista de la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad de Antioquía

Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad de Antioquía

Año: 2019

2145-7670

Introduction: sex estimation is one of the most important aspects of bioanthropological analysis. Teethare a key tool to obtain this information, especially in cases where the action of taphonomic agents orfuneral characteristics are unfavorable for preservation. The aim of this study was to examine the degree ofsexual dimorphism in permanent canines of a contemporary mestizo population from the city of Manizales,Colombia. Method: descriptive study, measuring the mesiodistal (MD) and bucolingual (BL) diameters ofpermanent canines in 109 mestizo individuals (63 male and 46 female) aged 15 to 18, born in the cityof Manizales, Colombia. The used statistical methods helped obtain the cut-off points, the percentages ofcases correctly allocated, the likelihood estimation for new individuals and the sexual dimorphism values.Results: the cut-off points were 7.88 mm and 7.33 mm for MD and BL of the upper canine, respectively,and 6.81 mm and 6.76 mm for the same variables in lower canines. Correct allocations range from 71.42%to 78.26%, except for bucolingual diameter in the upper canine, which yielded low values. The correctlikelihood estimation of external individuals ranges from 0.71 to 0.83. Finally, sexual dimorphism is relativelylow (between 2.79% and 6.80%), although it falls within the expected range. The most dimorphic tooth is thelower canine, in line with reports in other populations around the world. Conclusions: the size of permanentcanines is a good predictor of sex in the studied population and can be used when other osteologicalindicators are not available, or as a complement to them.