title: Conservative treatment for a growing patient with a severe, developing skeletal Class III malocclusion and open bite.
abstract: An 8-year-old Chinese girl sought treatment for a severe skeletal Class III malocclusion and open-bite skeletal pattern. Traditionally, patients with a skeletal Class III malocclusion are treated after they have stopped growing, and then they are treated with a combined orthodontic and orthognathic surgery approach. But the risks and expenses of this treatment plan are not acceptable to all patients. This young patient was treated with facemask therapy, a maxillary expansion device, and a molar occlusal splint for maxillary developmental stimulation with control of vertical jaw growth. After the completion of orthopedic therapy, 2 × 4 technology was used to adjust molar positions. A bonded tongue crib was used in the early permanent dentition to help the patient break her bad tongue habits. Straight-wire appliances were used for 16 months to adjust the occlusal relationship. This achieved significant improvement in anterior tooth relationships and facial profile esthetics. At the 2-year posttreatment follow-up, the results were satisfactory. The success of the sagittal relationship correction between the maxilla and the mandible for a skeletal Class III malocclusion depends on the coordination of transverse and vertical relationships combined with the growth potential of each patient.
authors.affiliation: Associate professor, Department of Orthodontics, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Graduate student, Department of Orthodontics, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Graduate student, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Science (HNS), Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Le
authors.affiliation: Associate professor and head, Department of Orthodontics, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: kou9315@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D005115:Extraoral Traction Appliances; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008313:Malocclusion, Angle Class III / Q000628:therapy*; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology; D008437:Maxilla / Q000254:growth & development; D008445:Maxillofacial Development / Q000502:physiology; D017090:Occlusal Splints; D024343:Open Bite / Q000628:therapy*; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design; D010155:Palatal Expansion Technique / Q000295:instrumentation; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D012399:Rotation; D014061:Tongue Habits / Q000628:therapy; D014087:Tooth Movement Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D016896:Treatment Outcome