Validity of the Third Molar Age Estimation from Different Dental Age Estimation Surveys for Malays and Chinese in Malaysia- A Pilot Study

Abstract

This study aims to determine which age assessment data using the third molar development values (local or international) is suitable for estimating the age of Malays or Chinese in Malaysia. A sample of 60 panoramic images of Malays and Chinese aged between 13.58 to 21.25 years were selected. Different assessment surveys which included the studies by Yusof et al. (2015), Wilson (2005), Johan et al. (2012), Mincer et al. (1993), AlQahtani et al. (2010) and Gunst et al. (2003) were employed to estimate the age from the developing third molar on the panoramic images studied. The estimated ages were compared to the chronological age of the selected Malaysians. All the datas were then recorded on Microsoft Excel sheet. The two observers were then subjected to the Intraclass Correlation Coeffecient (ICC) inter-observer reliability test.The highest number of correspondence (65%) between the chronological and estimated age (within one year) was for the survey conducted by Wilson. With regards to ethnicities, 70% of Chinese matched the mean estimated age by Wilson while Malays showed a high correspondence for the study by Mincer et al. (63.3%). Furthermore the ICC reliability test showed strong agreement between the two observers. There were similarities between the Malay and Chinese population in the correspondence of the estimated age to the chronological age employing the different dental estimation surveys; in addition the study by Wilson and Mincer et al. yielded best matching for these Malaysians.