Spacing and crowding among African and Caucasian children

To determine spacing and crowding according to ethnic group, gender and dental emergence stage among Tanzanian African and Caucasian children.

Cross-sectional epidemiological clinical study.

A total of 869 African (428 boys, 441 girls) and 706 Caucasian (319 boys, 387 girls) school children, aged 3(1/2)-16 years.

Comparison of spacing and crowding between African and Caucasian children according to gender and dental emergence stage.

Spacing was more often found in the maxilla, while crowding was more common in the mandible. Only during the transition of the maxillary permanent front teeth was there significantly more spacing in Caucasians. No gender differences were found. In both samples spacing decreased during later emergence stages. Crowding was more often found in Caucasian children than in African children. In Caucasian children the frequency of crowding increased with advanced emergence stages, while for Africans the trend was not consistent.

When planning resources for orthodontic treatment for different populations as well as planning treatment for individuals, ethnic background and emergence stage of the dentition need to be considered.