Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Quantifying the potential of morphological parameters for human dental identification: part 3—selecting the strongest skeletal identifiers in the mandible

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Legal Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The current study aimed to select the best mandibular morphological identifiers. One-hundred eighty-five panoramic radiographs were retrospectively collected, in which four landmarks were located on the mandible: the most superior point of the condyle right/left (CONR/L), of the coronoid right/left (CORR/L), of the mandibular lingula right/left (LINR/L), and the most mesial point of the mental foramen right/left (MMFR/L). Five linear measurements, 6 angles, and 10 ratios were measured bilaterally. Three groups of statistics were considered: (1) mean potential set; (2) inter-observer agreement quantified by intra-class correlation (ICC) and within-subject coefficient of variation (WSCV); and (3) Spearman correlation. Parameters were selected for a step-by-step cascade. In a univariate approach, the following parameters proved to have the best identifying capacity: ratio 3 right (between lines CONR — CORR and LINR — MMFR) with mean potential set 13%, ICC 0.90, and WSCV 4.8%; ratio 4 (between lines CONR/L — CORR/L and MMFR — MMFL) with mean potential set 13%, ICC 0.92, and WSCV 8.9%; and angle 4 left (between landmarks LINL, MMFL, and MMFR) with mean potential set of 18%, ICC 0.91, and WSCV 1.2%. The correlation coefficients ranged from 0.01 to 0.33. In a multivariate approach, the identifying capacity improved drastically, with all ratios combined as the strongest identifier (mean potential set 1.29%). In conclusion, a single ratio or a single angle already narrows down the set of potential matches, but the mean potential set remains relatively large. Combining all ratios drastically increases the certainty of the match.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

reproduced with permission from Milheiro et al. [26])

Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Stewart T D (1979) Essentials of forensic anthropology — especially as developed in the United States

  2. Dosi T, Vahanwala S, Gupta D (2018) Assessment of the effect of dimensions of the mandibular ramus and mental foramen on age and gender using digital panoramic radiographs: a retrospective study. Contemp Clin Dent 9(3):343–348. https://doi.org/10.4103/ccd.ccd_26_18

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Latham KE, Miller JJ (2019) DNA recovery and analysis from skeletal material in modern forensic contexts. Forensic Sci Res 4(1):51–59. https://doi.org/10.1080/20961790.2018.1515594

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Pillai JT, Devi TS, Lakshmi DCK (2014) Studies on human mandibles. IOSR J Dent Medical Sci (IOSR-JDMS) 13(2279–0853):8–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Apaydın B, Icoz D, Yasar F, Akgunlu F (2018) Evaluation of mandibular anatomical formation for gender determination in Turkish population. Balkan J Dent Med 22(3):133–137. https://doi.org/10.2478/bjdm-2018-0023

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Sambhana S, Sanghvi P, Mohammed RB, Shanta PP, Thetay AAR, Chaudhary VS (2016) Assessment of sexual dimorphism using digital orthopantomographs in South Indians. J Forensic Dent Sci 8(3):180. https://doi.org/10.4103/0975-1475.195113

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Nejaima Y, Silvaa AIV, Pressotob AGC, Netoc FH, Cariad PHF (2013) Comparison of distance and symmetry in the mental foramen obtained in situ and in radiographic images of Brazilians. Odontol Clín-Cient 12(4):269–272 (Recife out./dez.)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Ghouse N, Nagaraj T, James L, Swamy NN, Jagdish CD, Bhavana TV (2016) Digital analysis of linear measurements related to the mental and mandibular foramina in sex determination. JMRPS 2:5–9. https://doi.org/10.15713/ins.jmrps.55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Asdullah M, Ansari AA, Khan MH, Salati NA, Khawja KJ, Sachdev AS (2018) Morphological variations of lingula and prevalence of accessory mandibular foramina in mandibles: a study. Natl J Maxillofac Surg 9(2):129–133. https://doi.org/10.4103/njms.NJMS_13_16

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Bello SA, Adeoye JA, Ighile N, Ikimi NU (2018) Mental foramen size, position and symmetry in a multi-ethnic, urban black population: radiographic evidence. J Oral Maxillofac Res 9(4):e2. https://doi.org/10.5037/jomr.2018.9402

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Mohamed A, Nataraj K, Mathew VB, Varma B, Mohamed S, Valappila NJ, Meena AS (2016) Location of mental foramen using digital panoramic radiography. J Forensic Dent Sci 8(2):79–82. https://doi.org/10.4103/0975-1475.186365

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Yunus M, Achmad MH, Wulansari DP, Haeruddin R (2018) Characteristics vertical position of mental foramen reviewed by panoramic radiography as a guide in predicting individual’s age on forensic odontology examination. Pesqui bras odontopediatria clín integr 18(1):1–8. https://doi.org/10.4034/PBOCI.2018.181.63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Cartes G, Garay I, Deana NF, Navarro P, Alves N (2018) Mandibular canal course and the position of the mental foramen by panoramic X-ray in Chilean individuals. Biomed Res Int 2018:2709401. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/2709401

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Poongodi V, Kanmani R, Anandi MS, Krithika CL, Kannan A, Raghuram PH (2015) Prediction of age and gender using digital radiographic method: a retrospective study. J Pharm Bioallied Sci 7(Suppl 2):S504–S508. https://doi.org/10.4103/0975-7406.163518

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Suragimath G, Ashwinirani SR, Christopher V, Bijjargi S, Pawar R, Nayak A (2016) Gender determination by radiographic analysis of mental foramen in the Maharashtra population of India. J Forensic Dent Sci 8(3):176. https://doi.org/10.4103/0975-1475.195114

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Chandra A, Singh A, Badni M, Jaiswal R, Agnihotri A (2013) Determination of sex by radiographic analysis of mental foramen in North Indian population. J Forensic Dent Sci 5(1):52–55. https://doi.org/10.4103/0975-1475.114556

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Bhuyan R, Mohanty S, Bhuyan SK, Pati A, Priyadarshini S, Das P (2018) Panoramic radiograph as a forensic aid in age and gender estimation: preliminary retrospective study. J Oral Maxillofac Pathol 22(2):266–270. https://doi.org/10.4103/jomfp.JOMFP_90_17

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Bhardwaj D, Kumar JS, Mohan V (2014) Radiographic evaluation of mandible to predict the gender and age. J Clin Diagn Res 8(10):ZC66-9. https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2014/9497.5045

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Sairam V, Geethamalika MV, Kumar PB, Naresh G, Raju GP (2016) Determination of sexual dimorphism in humans by measurements of mandible on digital panoramic radiograph. Contemp Clin Dent 7(4):434–439. https://doi.org/10.4103/0976-237X.194110

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. More CB, Vijayvargiya R, Saha N (2017) Morphometric analysis of mandibular ramus for sex determination on digital orthopantomogram. J Forensic Dent Sci 9(1):1–5. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfo.jfds_25_15

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Damera A, Mohanalakhsmi J, Yellarthi PK, Rezwana BM (2016) Radiographic evaluation of mandibular ramus for gender estimation: retrospective study. J Forensic Dent Sci 8(2):74–78. https://doi.org/10.4103/0975-1475.186369

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Chole RH, Patil RN, Balsaraf Chole S, Gondivkar S, Gadbail AR, Yuwanati MB (2013) Association of mandible anatomy with age, gender, and dental status: a radiographic study. ISRN Radiol 2013:453763. https://doi.org/10.5402/2013/453763

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Haghnegahdar ABP (2013) Accuracy of linear vertical measurements in posterior mandible on panoramic view. Dent Res J 10:220–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Shaheen E, Mowafy B, Politis C, Jacobs R (2017) Semi-automatic forensic approach using mandibular midline lingual structures as fingerprint: a pilot study. JFOS J Forensic Odonto-Stomatol 35(2219–6749)

  25. Pretty IA, Sweet D (2001) A look at forensic dentistry—part 1: the role of teeth in the determination of human identity. Br Dent J 190(7):359–366. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.4800972

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Milheiro A, De Tobel J, Capitaneanu C, Shaheen E, Fieuws S, Thevissen P (2021) Quantifying the potential of morphological parameters for dental identification: part 1—proof of concept. Int J Legal Med:submitted

  27. Shu YL, De Tobel J, Chen J, Fieuws S, Thevissen P (2021) Quantifying the potential of morphological parameters for human dental identification: part 2—selecting the strongest identifiers in mandibular permanent teeth. Int J Legal Med:submitted

  28. Eliasziw M, Young SL, Woodbury MG, Fryday-Field K (1994) Statistical methodology for the concurrent assessment of interrater and intrarater reliability: using goniometric measurements as an example. Phys Ther 74(8):777–788. https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/74.8.777

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Saini V, Srivastava R, Rai RK, Shamal SN, Singh TB, Tripathi SK (2011) Mandibular ramus: an indicator for sex in fragmentary mandible. J Forensic Sci 56(Suppl 1):S13–S16. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2010.01599.x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Lopez-Capp TT, Rynn C, Wilkinson C, de Paiva LAS, Michel-Crosato E, Biazevic MGH (2018) Discriminant analysis of mandibular measurements for the estimation of sex in a modern Brazilian sample. Int J Legal Med 132(3):843–851. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-017-1681-8

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Du Chesne A, Benthaus S, Teige K, Brinkmann B (2000) Post-mortem orthopantomography—an aid in screening for identification purposes. Int J Legal Med 113(2):63–69. https://doi.org/10.1007/pl00007710

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Tohnak S, Mehnert AJH, Mahoney M, Crozier S (2007) Synthesizing dental radiographs for human identification. J Dent Res 86(11):1057–1062. https://doi.org/10.1177/154405910708601107

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Indira AP, Markande A, David MP (2012) Mandibular ramus: an indicator for sex determination — a digital radiographic study. J Forensic Dent Sci 4(2):58–62. https://doi.org/10.4103/0975-1475.109885

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. Suneel V. Vadavadagi, H Srinivasa, G B Goutham, Nausheen Hajira, M Lahari, G T Prasantha Reddy (2015) Partial edentulism and its association with socio-demographic variables among subjects attending dental teaching institutions, India. J Int Oral Health:60–63

  35. Nayar S, Bhuminathan SJ, Nisha S, Ramesh G, Sujitha K (2013) Edentulism and public awareness — an epidemiological study. Biomed Pharmacol J 6:77–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Nazir MA (2017) Prevalence of periodontal disease, its association with systemic diseases and prevention. Int J Health Sci 11(2):72–80

    Google Scholar 

  37. Al-Rafee MA (2020) The epidemiology of edentulism and the associated factors: a literature review. J Family Med Prim Care 9(4):1841–1843. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1181_19

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are especially thankful to Dr. Dan Alexandru George and dental assistant Tabita Rosca for their valuable help in obtaining the necessary panoramic radiographs.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Imaging and Pathology – Forensic Odontology, KU Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 7 blok A bus 7001, 3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Anca R. Iliescu, Cezar V. Capitaneanu, Debora Hürter & Patrick W. Thevissen

  2. Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics, KU Leuven – University of Leuven, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Steffen Fieuws

  3. Diagnostic Sciences – Radiology, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Jannick De Tobel

Authors
  1. Anca R. Iliescu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Cezar V. Capitaneanu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Debora Hürter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Steffen Fieuws
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jannick De Tobel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Patrick W. Thevissen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anca R. Iliescu.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval

The current research was developed after approval of the Ethics Committee of the University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium (November 26, 2019). This work was presented at the 73rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences on 18 February 2021, Anaheim, USA (Abstract G9).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Iliescu, A.R., Capitaneanu, C.V., Hürter, D. et al. Quantifying the potential of morphological parameters for human dental identification: part 3—selecting the strongest skeletal identifiers in the mandible. Int J Legal Med 136, 1811–1820 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-022-02852-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-022-02852-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation