Odontometrics
Definition
The quantitative measurement of teeth, covering crown diameters, root lengths, and cusp dimensions. In forensic practice these measurements feed discriminant function analyses that estimate biological sex from the overall size profile of the dentition.
Related terms
- Amelogenin
- A gene on both the X and Y chromosomes used for sex determination in forensic STR kits. The X-allele amplicon is approximately...
- Barr Body
- A condensed, transcriptionally inactive X chromosome visible in the interphase nuclei of XX individuals. In dental cells it appears as a small...
- Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA)
- A multivariate statistical method that builds a weighted linear equation from measurements to classify specimens into groups (here, male or female). A...
- Mandibular Canine Index (MCI)
- The ratio of mandibular canine mesiodistal crown width to intercanine distance, multiplied by 100. Values above a population-specific threshold lean male. Described...
- Sexual Dimorphism
- Systematic physical differences between biological males and females of a species. In teeth it is expressed mainly as size: males average larger...
Explained in
- Sex Estimation from Teeth and Dental DimensionsThe quantitative measurement of teeth, covering crown diameters, root lengths, and cusp dimensions. In forensic practice these measurements feed discriminant f...