Management of pseudo Class III malocclusion in southern Chinese children

To illustrate a simple effective method for early treatment of pseudo Class III in the mixed dentition and to highlight the advantages of early treatment by showing a 4-year follow-up of the treatment effects.

Twenty-one consecutive southern Chinese patients with a mean age of 9.6 years were included in the early treated group with pseudo Class III malocclusion.

Lateral cephalometric films taken at the beginning and at the end of treatment were analysed. The arithmetic mean and standard deviation (SD) were calculated for each cephalometric variable and paired t-tests were performed to assess the statistical significance of the treatment effects.

Anterior crossbites and mandibular displacements were eliminated after the treatment. The angulation of the upper incisors to the maxillary plane showed an increase by a mean of 9.5 degrees (P < 0.001), while the angulation of the lower incisors to the mandibular plane showed a decrease by a mean of 4.9 degrees (P < 0.001).

In pseudo Class III malocclusion, proclination of upper incisors and/or retroclination of lower incisors with simple fixed appliances contribute to the correction of anterior crossbite and the elimination of mandibular displacement. Proclination of upper incisors, use of Leeway space and arch width increase provide space required for the eruption of the premolars and canines.