Occlusal and space characteristics among 12-year-old school children in Bukoba and Moshi, Tanzania.

The aim of the study was to investigate the frequency of occlusal and space characteristics in Bukoba and Moshi, two towns in North-Western and Eastern parts of Tanzania. The entire sample consisted of 47% boys and 53% girls. Angle's and Foster's classifications were used in the study. Sagittal, vertical and transversal occlusion variables were included in the classification. Most of the children had Angle's class I in both townships. No child had distal occlusion in Bukoba but 8% of the school children had Angle's class III which was present in only 5% of the Moshi children. The most prevalent occlusal anomalies in both populations were large overjet and deep bite (greater than or equal to 3.5 mm), the prevalence of which was significantly higher in Moshi. Open bite also occurred more often in Moshi girls than Bukoba girls. No child had scissors bite in Moshi. Open bite and scissors bite in Bukoba girls and cross-bite in Moshi girls were rare. Diastema mediale prevailed mostly in the maxilla in the whole sample. About one fifth of the whole sample had crowding. The results suggest that different occlusal and space characteristics are present in Bukoba and Moshi children.