Sex Determination using Mental Foramen in Chennai Population Shanmugasundaram Karpagavalli1, Prasanthi S2 1Professor, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha University, P.H. Road, Chennai 2Postgraduate Student, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha University, P.H. Road, Chennai Online published on 8 February, 2019. Abstract The most challenging task in forensics is the determination of sex from unknown human skeletal remains. Such identification is made easier by the use of radiographs. Determination of sex by using radiographic landmarks such as the mental foramen in dental panoramic radiographs of Chennai population is the purpose of this study. The mental foramen was identified in panoramic radiographs and traced. Superior and Inferior tangents were drawn to the mental foramen. Perpendiculars from the tangents were drawn to the Lower border of the mandible and their lengths are measured (SL and IL). Two sets of measurements were made on each radiograph. The data was obtained, tabulated and compared using statistical analyses. The mean values of SL and IL were significantly higher in males when compared to females. There was no significant difference between the measurements of right and left sides of both males and females. Hence mental foramen can be used as a marker for sexual dimorphism. Top Keywords Sex determination, mental foramen, panoramic radiographs, forensic anthropology. Top |