Abstract: The attrition of molars with relation to age in 103 male Southern Chinese skulls was studied. The age of the skulls ranges from 17 to 73 years. Altogether 709 first and second molars were studied. The degree of attrition was divided into nine grades. The results were subjected to statistical analysis.
It is concluded that the degree of the attrition of the molars is closely related to age in the Southern Chinese skulls and that it can be used as a criterion for estimating age of adult skulls.
The second molar, due to its later eruption, wears more slowly than the first molar and the age ratio between the first and second molars is about 6:6.9.
The mean age and its 95% confidence interval for each grade of the attrition of the molars were given in table 3.
The degree of attrition of lower molars of the Southern Chinese skulls are higher than that of the upper molars.

Key words: Molar; Attrition; Estimation of age