Orthodontic treatment for Class III malocclusions

Orthodontic treatment of Class III malocclusions has not always been very successful in the past. The use of chin cap and fixed appliances for younger patients, or a combined surgical-orthodontic procedure for older patients, has been the general approach to the treatment of these malocclusions. These methods of treatment often encounter problems during treatment or during the retention period. This paper presents practical guidelines for the orthodontic treatment of Class III malocclusions. The key to success is to expand the maxillary dental arch to compensate for its deficiency. Correction of the anterior crossbite can be achieved rather efficiently by expanding the maxillary dental arch and retroclining the mandibular incisors. The suggested treatment principles are illustrated by the records of four patients with Class III malocclusion of various degrees of severity together with other orthodontic problems.