Sexual differences in Turkish dentition.

Sexual variation in the human skeleton and dentition is of great concern for both anthropologists and odontologists. Assessment of variation in dental size gives a clue about the behavior of a population, and also differences between the sexes. This study deals with sexual differences in a Turkish sample of individuals ranging in age from 20 to 29 years. The sample is composed of 28 buccolingual (BL) and mesiodistal (MD) dimensions of upper and lower dentition (I1 through M2). Dental casts of 50 males and 50 females were analyzed using discriminant function statistics. The results indicated that 8 of the upper and 7 of the lower dimensions were significantly greater in males. Many of the differences were located in the anterior teeth of both jaws. In a stepwise function applied to both arches, the lower and upper canine BL, lower canine and P1 MD, and lower I2 BL were used as the most discriminating variables. When the front teeth (i.e., I1, I2, and C) are used in separate functions, only the canine BL of the lower jaw and I2 and C BL of the upper jaw were found to have the discriminating variables. Classification accuracy was 81% for the total sample, 76% for upper front and 81% for lower front teeth. In conclusion, dentition in Turkish people seems to be less sexually dimorphic than the populations with which they were compared (Jordanians, Swedish and South Africans) as was determined by the percent of accuracy obtained. In comparison with other populations, as anticipated, Turkish dental size is closest to the Jordanian sample and farthest from the South African whites.

Use of diagonal teeth measurements in predicting gender in a Turkish population.

Mesiodistal and buccolingual measurements, commonly used as a means of sex determination from teeth, can sometimes cause difficulties. The aim of this study is to test whether diagonal measurements can make it possible to take more accurate measurements. The results of diagonal measurements of dental casts taken from 30 males and 30 females have been evaluated by discriminant function statistics. Intra- and interobserver error tests did not indicate any statistically significant differences between the findings of two observers. Seven of the 14 measurements on the maxilla and 10 of the 14 measurements on the mandible have been found to be significantly greater in males. According to the results of the stepwise discriminant function statistics, the most contributory measurements to the function were upper first incisor mesiobuccal-distolingual (MBDL) and distobuccal-mesiolingual, lower second incisor MBDL, and lower canine MBDL. The highest reliability was obtained in MBDL measurements. It was realized that diagonal measurements of teeth, especially of canines, revealed clear dimorphic differences. Classification accuracy was found to be 83.3% for total sample, 78.3 for upper jaw, and 85.0% for the lower jaw. Accuracy rate was higher in the lower teeth. Commonly seen orthodontic anomalies, such as tooth rotations, crowding, attritions, deep dentin-enamel junction defects, and certain types of fillings, could make it difficult to correctly take width measurements or could cause other mistakes to occur. This explains the reason why this research has been considered to be of some use in diagonal measurements, which is an accurate method, particularly when employed for the front teeth.