Abstract

Sexual dimorphism refers to the differences in size, stature and appearance between male and female, since no two mouths are alike. Teeth are the hardest and chemically the most stable tissues found in the body, are known to resist postmortem, mechanical, chemical, physical and thermal types of destruction. To determine sexual dimorphism of mandibular canine in south Indian population, the present study was conducted on 60 subjects. (male–30, female-30). The mean mesiodistal width of right and left mandibular canines are significantly different in males and females. The t value for mesiodistal width of right mandibular canine is more than the left mandibular canine. Mandibular canine index for right and left canines were also found to be significantly different in male and female. Sexual dimorphism was calculated and left mandibular canine was found to be more dimorphic than right mandibular canine. This study conclusively establishes that there is definite statistically significant sexual dimorphism in mandibular canines in South Indian population

Key words: Sexual Dimorphism, Inter-canine Distance, Mandibular Canine Width, Mandibular Canine Index