HOW RELIABLE IS SEX DIFFERENTIATION FROM TEETH MEASUREMENTS

Gender determination of human remains recovered in forensic contexts constitutes an important step in medico-legal examination. The ability of the inert, mineralized structures of teeth to resist post-mortem degradation and to survive deliberate, accidental or natural change has led forensic experts to focus on the teeth as a possible source for valuable forensic data in fragmentary and poorly preserved human remains. Numerous studies show that tooth size standards based on odontometric investigations are population specific and can be used in age and sex determination. This paper reviews the methods of determining sex by odontometrics, tooth proportions and sexual dimorphism.