Craniofacial Dimorphism in Young Jordanian Adults

Abstract

Aims: Was to develop a gender determination technique for young Jordanian adult population. Study Design: using osteometric data, from Cephalometric images, and discriminate function analysis. Place and Duration of Study: Section of Clinical Dentistry of the Jordan University Hospital, between October 2013 and July 2014. Methodology: A total of 146 randomly selected digital lateral cephalometric radiographs of young Jordanian adult patients were employed in the investigation, 47 patients were males and 99 were females. For each lateral cephalometric radiograph, one observer using a customized analysis created in Viewbox 4-Cephalometric Software subroutines digitized 19 craniofacial skeletal landmarks. Utilizing the digitized landmarks, 18 measurements that comprised 14 linear, 3 angular and 1 proportional parameters were carried out. Results: The results demonstrated that, with the exception of the Menton to Gonion distance, i. e., the length of the mandibular body, the mean values of all other parameters of male subjects were statistically significantly larger (p<0.05) than those for females. Mastoid height was found to be the best single predictor of gender and can provide an accuracy rate of 82.2%. Using Stepwise method revealed four dimensions (mastoid height, mastoid width, glabella to supraglabellare-nasion distance, and the length of skull base)were found to form the best combination of parameters most precisely depict the best possible prediction, raising the classification accuracy up to 87.7%. Conclusion: A discriminant function equation specific for Jordanian population has also been derived from cranio-mandibular variables. The equation can now be used for a calculable and more precise prediction of gender of Jordanian young adult population.q