Stature estimation using odontometry and skull anthropometry.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possibility of estimating height from odontometry and anthropometric data of the skull for the positive identification of height in forensic investigations concerned with fragmentary human remains. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out on 100 Mysorean patients, 50 males, and 50 females. Measurements of mesiodistal widths of the six maxillary anterior teeth, circumference of the skull, and height were made directly on each patient. Anteroposterior diameter of the skull was obtained on the lateral cephalograph. The data collected were subjected to statistical methods. The known heights of the combined data, data for males, and females were regressed against the odontometric and anthropometric variables using linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Significant sexual dimorphism was observed for the parameters studied ( P 0.05). Highly significant correlation was found between height and other parameters when combined data and data for males were regressed. The equation relating height to the combined mesiodistal width of maxillary anterior teeth was derived as height = 982.421 + 13.65 x combined mesiodistal width of maxillary anterior teeth ( P 0.0001). Similarly equations were obtained by regressing height to head circumference and skull diameter ( P 0.0001 for both). The above findings may hence provide reliable method of estimation of height from skeletal remains in the forensic setup.