Sex and Race: in Forensic Odontology By: Dr. KT Ordonez

SEX AND RACE
In Forensic Odontology
By: Dr. KT Ordonez
Introduction
 The primary utility of forensic odontology is in
identification of human remains based upon
the individualistic characteristics present in the
teeth of different individuals.
 Teeth are the strongest part of the human body,
which can withstand high explosion and are
not damaged by such incidents
 teeth are likely to be recovered in mass fatality
incidents where the other means of
identification such as fingerprints and facial
features are destroyed.
 Disaster Victim Identification
(DVI)
-The process of identification of the disaster
victims (such as tsunamis, earth quakes, land
slides, bomb blasts and terrorist attacks, air plane
crashes, train and road accidents, etc. )
dismembered dead bodies are recovered which
are beyond recognition.
Sex Determination
 Although sex determination from teeth is not
conclusive, teeth can still give a clue regarding
the sex of the individual.
ODONTOMETRICS- a technique to
take measurements on the teeth has been used by
the scientists for sex determination
 -using this technique, sex determination is
based on the sexual dimorphism of the size of

the teeth
 -the overall accuracy rate of odontometric sex
determination is ~72%. According to Joseph et

al.
 1. Linear Measurements- Mesio-distal and bucco-
lingual tooth dimensions have been used for sex
determination in the past
 2. Diagonal Measurements- are helpful in
measuring rotated, crowded and proximally
restored teeth
 Canine Distal Accessory Ridge- located on
the lingual surface between the medial
lingual ridge and distal marginal ridge has
been found to show sexual dimorphism
 -This ridge is more pronounced and more
frequency found in males than females.
SEX CHROMATIN or BARR BODIES
 -its presence is the most recent method of sex
determination in the pulp of the teeth.
POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION
 The studies have also been carried out to
extract DNA from the pulp tissue as well as
dentine and is used for sex determination
using this.
ENAMEL PROTEIN
 due to its different patterns in males and
females has also been used for sex
determination using DNA techniques.
Amelogenin or AMEL
 is a major protein found in the enamel of
humans
 has different patterns of nucleotide
sequence in the enamels of males and
females
 Two different AMEL genes, one located
on chromosome X and one on the Y
chromosome are found in males,
however, females have two identical
AMEL genes located on X chromosome
Race Determination
 Certain morphological features of the
teeth are known to show population
variation which can be used to
distinguish the ethnicity or ancestry.
 These features, characteristics and
occupational marks give an idea about
the habits and cultural practices of a
group of people/ethnicity.
 The dental characteristics such as the shovelling
or scooping of the upper incisor (most common
in Asiatic Mongoloids and Amerindians),
taurodontism, chisel shaped incisors, Carabelli’s
cusp, hypocone, and protostylid, peg shaping of
the teeth can be used to determine the ethnicity
of the individual
 Aborigines Australians, the Melanesians and
the American Indians and Eskimos tend to be
large toothed races with wide crowns and
Lapps and Bushmen are small people with
comparatively smaller teeth.
 Dental restorations sometimes may indicate the
ethnicity of the individual
 methods of restorations in certain countries or
regions may be unique and may not be used at
any other place. The use of expensive
restorations may also suggest social and
economic status of an individual
 It has also been observed that teeth can provide
important evidence regarding the habits and
occupations of the individuals.
 Dressmakers or tailors keep needles between
their teeth, thread biting in sewing; cobblers,
carpenters and electricians hold nails between
their incisors; pencil and pen biting, opening
tops of bottles with the teeth
 Certain habits like pipe smoking, cigarette
smoking and tobacco chewing can also leave
their mark on the teeth.
 Excessive tooth wear has been observed in
mining industry associated with the exposure
to olivine dust in the work environment
 Artificial deformations sometimes lead to
identification of the person as they may be
related with the cultural practices of a
particular group of population.
 Most often the central incisors are involved in

the artificial deformation as they are most
visible from outside the mouth.
 THE END
 Thank you for listening!

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SEX AND RACE

based on the sexual dimorphism of the size of

determination is ~72%. According to Joseph et

 Most often the central incisors are involved in

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