Occlusion and Malocclusion - Class III Malocclusions

8 important questions on Occlusion and Malocclusion - Class III Malocclusions

Incidence of Class III malocclusion? (refs)

5% (Todd & Lader, 1988)

Anterior Crossbite = 10% (Chestnut et al, 2004)

Aetiology of Class III malocclusion?

Genetics - due to skeletal pattern
Patients with CLP may present with a Class III malocclusion

Skeletal features of class III malocclusion? (refs)

  • Usually class III skeletal base relationship
  • Reduced cranial base angle - forwards position of mandible (Hopkins et al, 1968)
  • Maxillary retrusion is the most common contributing factor - 60% of all cases (Guyer et al, 1986)
  • Sometimes a short cranial base
  • Short maxilla, small and narrow relative to mandible which tends to be broad, therefore, crossbites likely
  • Obtuse gonial angle
  • Normal or reduced MMPA and lower face height
  • Transverse skeletal discrepancy often a feature (Chen et al, 2008)
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Soft tissue features of Class III malocclusion?

  • Not involved in aetiology but encourage dentoalveolar compensation
  • Lower lip may be full and pendulous

Dental features of Class III malocclusion? (ref)

  • CIII molar relationship
  • Tendency to or full reverse overjet
  • Reduced overbite
  • AOB may exist
  • Incisors compensate for skeletal base, i.e. Proclined maxillary and retroclined mandibular incisors
  • Maxilla probably crowded, mandible unlikely to be so (Lin, 2007)
  • In 'pseudo' class III there is bilateral class I buccal occlusion and majority of teeth are in anterior crossbite      

Displacement in class III malocclusion?

Likely to be a displacement in order to obtain posterior occlusion due to edge-to-edge incisor contact or to unsatisfactory transverse buccal segment relationship

Facial growth in class III malocclusion?

  • Tends to be unfavourable, i.e. Backwards growth rotation
  • Increased vertical growth

General treatment options for class III malocclusion?

  • Growth modification
  • Orthodontic camouflage
  • Orthodontic decompensation and orthognathic surgery 

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