Forensic value of mandibular anthropometry in gender and age estimation

M.F. Popa, C.L. Stefanescu, P.D. Corici

Abstract: Forensic identification, a very important tool for medical practice, has its bases mainly on the study of anthropometrical characters. In this study we have applied dental identification methods at the mandible level, the work material being represented by 80 dry mandible specimens from the charnel house of Constanţa`s Central Memorial. We have applied the discriminate F2 function (we have chosen this function because it is applicable even on one half of the mandible - when the other half is missing, damaged or incomplete) for all 80 mandibles specimens. The results where centralized in several tables with the others measurements and submitted to a statistic study. The first step was to identify the gender. More then half of the female mandibles (52,2%) where edentulous, 32,6% an extended edentulous and only 15,2% were fully dentate. 65% of the males mandibles were fully dentate, 7,5% edentulous and 27,5% were extended edentulous. We have analyzed the data and conclude that applying the odontostomatological methods, a forensic specialist is able to identify certain characteristics of the individual such as gender and age working only with the under-jaw (or pieces of it).
Keywords: mandible, forensic identification, gender and age estimation, statistic analysis