Sexual Dimorphism in Mandibular Canine Width and Intercanine Distance of University of Port-Harcourt Student, Nigeria

One of the major roles of forensics in human identification is establishment of sex of the individual. In this study, a thorough anthropometric evaluation of mandibular canine width and intercanine distance was carried out on 300 apparently healthy individuals whose ages ranged between 18-30 years at a gender ratio of 1:1 so as to determine the sex of an individual and to investigate the possibility of dimorphism of the canines being used as a valid tool in the forensic and legal identification of an individual. These measurements were done with the aid of a digital vernier caliper while the mandibular indexes were derived by the division of the mandibular canine width by the intercanine distance. The values were subjected to analysis and there was great evidence of sexual dimorphism. The males have significantly greater mandibular canine width when compared to females. In males, the mean Right mandibular canine width was 7.79±0.05 and the mean Left mandibular canine width was 7.88±0.05, while in females was 6.76±0.05 and 6.75±0.05, respectively. The percentage analysis of sexual dimorphism showed that the left mandibular canine exhibited a greater degree of sexual dimorphism. The intercanine distance showed a high degree of sexual dimorphism which was found statistically significant. The mandibular intercanine distance was 34.20±0.19 in males and 32.64±0.22 in females.