Retrospective Assessment of Gender Differences in Mental Foramen – CBCT study

Abstract

Background: The mental foramen is found on both sides of the mandible bone. It serves as a passage for mental vessels and nerves. In forensic anthropology, the morphology of the mental foramen can aid in determining sex, estimating age, and identifying different races. This study focuses on using cone beam computed tomography to analyze the morphology of the mental foramen to establish gender and its application in forensic odontology. To analyze sexual dimorphism in the Chennai population by using CBCT (3-D) imaging to study the mental foramen.

Materials And Methods: A total of 200 CBCT images were analyzed to assess the opening angle of the mental foramen, the distance from the superior border of the mental foramen to the lower border of the mandible (SLM), and the distance from the inferior border of the mental foramen to the lower border of the mandible (ILM) using Kodak software analysis. Two examiners tested and recorded the results using Galileos 3D software.

Results: The average opening angle of the mental foramen was 21.4 degrees for males (ages 18-50) and 20.4 degrees for females (ages 18-50). The mean SLM distance was 14.2 mm for males and 13.6 mm for females, while the mean ILM distance was 10.0 mm for males and 9.6 mm for females. Overall, the opening angle, SLM distance, and ILM distance were greater in males than in females.

Conclusion: The distance between the mental foramen and the lower border of the jaw shows significant sexual dimorphism. A bilateral assessment of SLM and ILM in both sexes can serve as an effective tool for gender discrimination.