Background: The determination of age and sex is crucial for establishing human identity. The
mandible is an accessible and durable bone that is very useful in this respect.
Aim: To assess the efficacy of measuring the mandible ramus length in the identification of age
and sex in a group of Egyptians.
Subjects and Methods: The length of the ramus of the mandible was measured in lateral
craniofacial scans of 213 individuals (99 males and 114 females) with an age range of 7-58 years
using cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT).
Results: Sexual dimorphism was not observed until age of 17 years in this sample. There was
not found any significant differences in the length of the ramus of the mandible between males
and females in the age range of 7 to less than 17 years (P-value = 0.2495). There was a significant
difference between males and females for the mean length of the ramus in the age range of 17 to 58
years (P-value < 0.0000). It predicts sex with an accuracy of 67%. There was a positive correlation
between and (age) and loge (ramus length) (r=0.73, P-value < 0.0001 for females and r=0.85,
P-value his or her mandible ramus length.
Conclusion: The mandibular ramus length is valuable in age estimation and less valuable in
sex determination. Computerized tomography examination is a safe and an accurate procedure
with minimal radiation exposure, and provides valuable precise information regarding mandible
measurements.