ANTERIOR TOOTH RELATIONS IN KENYAN AFRICANS

Dental plaster casts of 235 Maasai, 116 Kikuyu and 61 Kalenjin childre n aged 3-16 yr were studied to determine the incidence and magnitude o f diastemas, overbite, overjet and anterior open bite. The highest pre valence of diastema was amongst the Maasai (61.3%), of overbite (84%) and overjet (99%) amongst the Kikuyu, and of anterior open bite amongs t Kalenjin (24%), with values greater than 0.4 mm up to 11.5 mm. Compa rison of the mean values showed that diastema (1.77 mm) and overjet (4 .4 mm) were greatest in Maasai, overbite (3.53 mm) in Kalenjin, and an terior open bite (3.50 mm) in Kikuyu. In the total sample, the prevale nce and mean of diastema were 49%, 1.68 mm; of overbite 77.4%, 2.96 mm ; of overjet 88.6%, 3.83 mm; and of anterior open bite 16.5%, 2.69 mm (with values between 0.4-11.5 mm), while 5.5% had an edge-to-edge bite (-0.5-0.5 mm). The prevalence of diastema decreased whilst its magnit ude increased with age. The mean values of overbite and overjet increa sed, while those for anterior open bite decreased with age. The mean v alues of diastema, overbite and overjet were greater amongst the femal es, but the difference was significant only for overjet. The high prev alence and greater values of measurements of anterior tooth relations may be related to variable growth of the bimaxillary dentoalveolar com plex and soft tissue influences. This may be important in orthodontic treatment planning, dental prostheses and other clinical dental treatm ents in Kenyan populations.