Maxillary Anteriors Width and Interphalangeal Distance - A Correlational Analysis

Objectives: To estimate the mesiodistal width of maxillary anterior teeth from canine to canine,the inter crease distance between distal inter phalangeal crease to digital palmar crease in the little finger of the left hand,the correlation between maxillary anterior teeth width and the finger creases width,to derive a ratio between maxillary anterior teeth width and the finger creases width and test its efficacy as a forensic tool in gender identification.
Methods: 50 human dentulous subjects satisfying the following inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected for the study,
INCLUSION CRITERIA:
Human subjects of indian origin
age group between 18-25 years
Both the genders
No manifestations of malocclusion
Full complement of maxillary anteriors
Fingers with no deformity
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
caries
Periodontally compromised malocclusion
Mesiodense
peg laterals
congenitally missing anteriors
Proclinaion of anteriors
Fractured teeth
Restored teeth
Polydactly
Symbrachydactly
Fingers with congenital/acquired deformities
Partial or semi partial amputation of fingers
Burn injuries
Osseous anomalies and nutrional deficiencies
Results: mean and standard deviation of male inter canine values = 37.4054 ± 2.67070
mean and standard deviation of female inter canine values = 37.7838 ± 1.86680
mean and standard deviation of male inter phalangeal values=36.8888 ± 2.44524
mean and standard deviation of female inter phalangeal values= 33.9688 ± 2.46391
TF index males=1.0141
TF index females=1.1169
An independent sample t test was done to assess statistical difference between the male and female TF index at 5% significance and a statistically significant difference was observed . The upper limit for TF index for male was set as 1.03 and 50 more samples were analyzed the data tabulated and subjected to sensitivity analysis using the ROC statistics and the area under the curve was 1 for both males and females denoting a high level of sensitivity of the index.
Conclusions: There was a positive correlation of intercanine and interphalangeal in both males and females and TF ratio was less than or equal to 1.03 denoted male gender identification and TF index more than 1.03 denoted predominant female gender identification. This value can be used as one of the additional forensic toot for gender identification.