Utility Of Mandibular Canine Index In Human Identification : A Forensic Study In Navi Mumbai
Main Article Content
Abstract
Objective:
To establish the effectiveness of the mandibular canine index (MCI) in predicting sex in the Navi Mumbai population.
Materials and Methods:
A total of 200 subjects (100 males and 100 females), aged 17–25 years and residing in Navi Mumbai, were included in the study. Alginate impressions were taken, and study models were prepared using dental stone. The maximum mesiodistal width of mandibular canines and the intercanine distance (linear distance between the cusp tips of mandibular canines) were measured using a Vernier caliper. The observed mandibular canine index (MCIₒ) was calculated as the ratio of the maximum mesiodistal width of the mandibular canine to the intercanine arch width.
Results:
The left mandibular canine exhibited greater sexual dimorphism (9.05%) compared to the right (8.78%). Sex could be accurately predicted in approximately 70% of the subjects.
Conclusion:
Using the standard MCI, sex determination was possible in about 72% of the studied Navi Mumbai population. Therefore, MCI serves as a simple, rapid, and reproducible method for gender determination, especially useful in forensic and anthropological contexts.
Article Details
References
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