Annals and Essences of Dentistry
Open Access
ISSN: 0975-8798, 0976-156X
ISSN: 0975-8798, 0976-156X
Aida Sulaiman AlBegamy
Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Saudi Arabia
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Ann Essence Dent
Introduction: Pseudo-Class III malocclusion is characterized by an anterior crossbite due to the forward functional displacement of the mandible; in most cases, the maxillary incisors are retroclined, and the mandibular incisors are proclined. Various appliances have been devised for early treatment of a pseudo Class III. This literature review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of pseudo class III malocclusion and how to treat it. Objective: The objective of this review is to make a differential diagnosis between skeletal and pseudo-class III malocclusion, and how to treat an anterior crossbite. Results: Pseudo class III malocclusion is a challenging condition to diagnose and to treat due to its complex etiology and clinical presentation. It is a habitual established anterior crossbite without skeletal discrepancy, usually as a result from a functional forward shift of the mandible on closure. Timing of treatment is important and the goal of interceptive orthodontics is to prevent an existing problem from worsening. Specially for pseudo Class III, the goal of early treatment is to correct the anterior displacement of the mandible before the eruption of the canines and premolars. Anterior teeth can be guided into Class I by proper mandibular position which will provide a normal environment for the growth of the maxilla, and thus, eliminating the anterior crossbite. Conclusion: Correctly diagnosing a pseudo-Class III malocclusion makes a difference in the orthodontic treatment plan. Early interceptive treatment has been successful in most cases without requiring a second phase for positive overjet to be obtained after treatment.
Aida Al Begamy has a master degree in orthodontics from the University of Manchester and a membership of orthodontics from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. She is currently a consultant orthodontist at Prince Sultan Military Medical City.