Orthopedic Treatment of Skeletal Class III Malocclusion with an Innovative Technique

Skeletal class III malocclusion is prevalent among orthodontic patients and is often associated with serious aesthetic, functional and social repercussions for patients. Class III with maxillary retrusion can be intercepted early in order to allow a more favorable environment for dentofacial growth and simplify subsequent orthodontic procedures. The current clinical case of a 5-year-old girl discusses the particularities of the early treatment of Class III malocclusion of maxillary origin using Delaire facemask associated with an innovative technique that improved the orthopedic effect by pulling the maxilla as a block with fewer dentoalveolar side effects. The facemask therapy enabled anterior maxillary displacement with the establishment of positive overjet. It also allowed the restoration of class I canine and molar relationships as well as a significant improvement in the patient’s profile and smile aesthetics.Subject AreasOrthodontics, Orthopedics