Abstract:

The degree of sexual dimorphism of permanent human canines in cervical buccolingual and mesiodistal diameters was investigated through discriminant analyses. Measurements were recorded in 254 canines from 85 individuals in four populations and sex was estimated with multifactorial morphological methods. Age was similar assessed in order to rule it out as a factor. Tooth and body size were controlled for in three of the populations (56 individuals) by the greatest buccolingual diameter of the right first molar of the corresponding jaw and the coronal diameter of the right femoral head, respectively. Age and tooth and body size were statistically insignificant factor2s (p > 0.05). Inter-observer error varied from 0.04 to 0.17 mm or 0.7-3.0% and was largely insignificant. Student’s t-tests found jaw was significant (p<0.05) but side was not (p>0.05) so measurements for both sides were averaged to increase the sample size. Sexual dimorphism was statistically insignificant for all four diameters individually or grouped with the exception of mandibular buccolingual width. Accuracy values ranged from 49-73% which, adjusted for a generous error margin from sexing techniques, became 39-58%. These results indicate that the landmarks, assemblages, or both do not exhibit significant sexual dimorphism. Future work should consider similar populations with different landmarks and/or the same landmarks on a different assemblage, preferably one of known sex.

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