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.