Assessment Of Adult Maxillary Sinus Dimension in Panoramic Radiographs for Sex Determination

Main Article Content

V. Divyadharsini
T.N.Uma Maheswari

Keywords

Adult, Dimension, Maxillary sinus, Panoramic radiographs, Sex determination

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this study was to analyze right and left maxillary sinus dimensions of adult subjects on panoramic radiographs and their possible application in sex determination.
Background: The human identification process is based on the statistical parameters associated with qualitative and quantitative features such as species, sex, age, height and racial group. The forensic dentistry is closely related to human identification in situations where other means are not indicated or are not applicable. Maxillary sinuses are cavities contained within the maxillary bone, delimited by the orbital floor, nasal wall and alveolar ridge with close proximity to the maxillary posterior teeth roots. Panoramic radiography is one of the most commonly used imaging techniques in forensic dentistry.
Materials And Methods: 100 male and 100 females, aged 18 years or older, were selected. Their panoramic radiographs were evaluated. OPGs with completely formed right & left maxillary sinus and acceptable definition with adequate contrast, density and clarity were included in this study. Radiographs bearing pathologies or malformation and images with positioning errors were excluded.
Results: For female subjects, the mean height and width of the left maxillary sinus were 25.32±3.39 mm and 42.4±4.26 mm, respectively. And the right maxillary sinus was 24.67±4.26mm for height and 43.25±2.83 mm for width. Male subjects were found to have the mean height and width of the left maxillary sinus 29.32±3.43 mm and 47.54±3.42 mm, respectively. And the right maxillary sinus was 28.68±4.38 mm for height and 45.37±4.24 mm for width. There was a statistically significant difference in the height and width of maxillary sinuses between males and females.
Conclusion: Maxillary sinuses dimensions in panoramic radiographic images, such as height and width, can be used for gender determination. Males have greater mean values of height and width, for both sinuses than females. There were no significant differences between right and left maxillary sinuses across genders.

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