The objective of this retrospective study was to
investigate what percentage of the dental students in
the University of Malaya has a tooth size
discrepancy. The sample comprised 40 good quality
pre-treatment study models with fully erupted and
complete permanent dentitions from first molar to
first molar, which were selected from the dental
students of the University of Malaya. The
mesiodistal diameter tooth sizes were randomly
measured manually from first molar to first molar
using digital calliper (Mitutoyu) accurate to 0.01
mm, and the Bolton analyses for anterior and overall
ratios were calculated by scientific calculator.
Reproducibility analysis for intra- and interexaminer
calibrations was assessed by measuring 10
study models twice, a week apart. A paired sample
t-test and the correlation coefficient were used to
evaluate the systematic and random errors of the
measurements using Statistical Package for Social
Sciences (SPSS) version 12.0. The reproducibility of
the intra and inter-examiners for the sum of upper
and lower mesiodistal tooth size were high (average
mean difference = 0.62, r = 0.82). This study found
47.5% of the samples had anterior, and about 10%
had overall· tooth width ratios greater than 2
standard deviations from Bolton's mean. Large
percentage of the dental students of the University
of Malaya has tooth size discrepancies outside of
Bolton 2 standard deviations. It would seem prudent
to routinely perform the tooth size analysis and
include the findings into orthodontic treatment
planning.