Variation In Dental Crown Morphology In Malaysian Populations.

• Main Authors: Mohd, Khamis, Taylor, Jane, Abdul, Samsudin, Townsend, Grant
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2006
• Subjects: RK Dentistry
• Online Access: http://eprints.usm.my/150/1/Variation_In_Dental_Crown_Morphology_In_Malaysian_Population.pdf; http://eprints.usm.my/150/; http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/ajpa

Dental crown variations was studied in the four main population groups living in Malaysia using dental cast(upper and Lower) obtained from 790 individuals. The aims of the study were to characterize variations in 13 crown traits,within groups as well as between groups, and to assess affinities between the groups based on frequencies of occurance of dental feature. Using chi-square analysis and Ficher's exact test the majority of dental traits were found to bilaterally symmetrical and to demonstrate low sexual dimorphism. comparison of traits frequencies between groups revealed similarities between Malays, Jahai(Negritos) and Chinese who conformed to Mongoloid Sinodont/Sundadont dental patterns, whereas the Indians Conformed to an Indo-European pattern. Phenetic distance analysis, using the mean measure of divergence, showed that Indian were markedly separated from the other groups, while Malays were closer to Jahai than to Chinese. These findings based on dental traits are consistent with historical explanations of affinities between modern Malaysian opulations.