Assessment of Mandibular Metric Variations for Sex Identification in the Dakshina Kannada Population: A Retrospective CBCT Study

genetic and environmental influences.Sexual dimorphism-the distinct physical variations between males and females of the same species-is particularly evident in the human mandible, making it a valuable feature for forensic and anthropological studies. 4 IntroductIonForensic odontology, the science of identifying individuals through dental evidence, has become an increasingly valuable tool in the field of forensic investigation, particularly in cases of mass disasters where bodies are mutilated beyond recognition. 1In addition to determining age and ethnic origin, determining the sex of human remains is crucial for identification during accidents, mass disasters, or when there is a lack of information regarding the deceased. 2Male and female adult bones have varying dimensions in every human community.This establishes the foundation of forensic anthropology. 3epending on the bones that are accessible and their state, sex determination approaches may vary in forensic anthropology.The skull and pelvis are the most reliable bones for sex determination.Since the mandible is thought to be the most resilient facial bone and maintains its shape better than any other, it becomes a crucial source for sex determination if the pelvis is missing in its entirety, and since it also resists putrefaction, morphological and metric methods are typically used to determine the sex of a bone.The mandible, commonly known as the jawbone, provides structural support for the lower face and serves as the foundation for the teeth.The ability to determine sex based on bone structure is highly dependable, as these characteristics remain largely unaffected by