Sex discrimination by odontometrics in Libyan subjects

Objectives: To evaluate sexual dimorphism in crown width and cusp parameters of permanent maxillary first and second molars and to use these parameters to derive a new formulae for sex determination in Libyan subjects. Materials and methods: A sample of 200 upper dental casts of Libyan subjects (100 males, 100 females, aged 12-17 years) were selected from a larger cohort. Eight parameters were determined for each of the left maxillary first (M1) and second (M2) molars using a digital caliper: four crown width measurements (buccolingual, mesiodistal, mesiobuccal-distolingual and distobuccal-mesiolingual) and four cusp measurements (hypocone, protocone, paracone and metacone) were taken. The percentage of sexual dimorphism for each parameter was computed. The accuracy of sex discrimination for each molar individually and both molars combined was determined by discriminant function analysis. A formula for sex determination was generated using the same statistical tool. Results: The greatest sexual dimorphism was observed in the paracone and protocone for M1, and in metacone and mesiobuccal-distolingual width for M2. The most accurate sex determination was obtained using data of M1 alone, or M1 and M2 combined. Using these data, we were able to generate a formula for sex determination for each M1 and M2. Conclusion: The formulae derived from this study, is potentially useful in narrowing the search and identifying the sex of Libyan post-mortem records when other means of identification are not feasible.