Sexual dimorphism of canine volume: A pilot study

• Canine volume amounted in mean to 0.745 cm3 (SD 0.126 cm3) in males, 0.551 cm3 (SD 0.130 cm3) in females.
• Difference between males and females was statistically significant (p < 0.01).
• A diagnostic threshold of 0.619 cm3 was stated, which provides a percentage of correct answer of 80.5% in the chosen sample.
• The novel method was then applied to 7 archaelogical canines: in all the cases the threshold was able to correctly assess the sex of the seven subjects.
• The study adds a contribution to the wide analysis of dental sexual dimorphism.

Sex assessment is a crucial part of the biological profile in forensic and archaeological context, but it can be hardly performed in cases of commingled and charred human remains where DNA tests often are not applicable. With time literature have analyzed the sexual dimorphism of teeth (and especially canines), but very few articles take into consideration the teeth volume, although with time several technologies have been introduced in order to assess 3D volume (CT-scan, laser scanner, etc.).This study aims at assessing the sexual dimorphism of dental and pulp chamber volumes of a sample of canines. Cone beam computed tomography analyses were performed by 87 patients (41 males and 46 females, aged between 15 and 83 years) for clinical purposes, and were acquired in order to measure canine volumes. Results show that the dental volume amounted to 0.745 cm3 (SD 0.126 cm3) in males, 0.551 cm3 (SD 0.130 cm3) with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.01). A diagnostic threshold of 0.619 cm3 was stated, which provides a percentage of correct answer of 80.5% in the chosen sample. The novel method was then applied with success to 7 archaeological: where in all the cases the results were concordant with those provided by the assessment of the cranium and pelvis.The study adds a contribution to the wide analysis of dental sexual dimorphism confirming the statistically significant differences of volume between males and females and providing a method for the diagnosis of sex applicable to forensic cases.