Surgical-orthodontic approach to skeletal class III malocclusion

Twenty-nine adult patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion were treated by combined surgical-orthodontic management. A thorough analysis enabled us to point out the exact location and degree of the deformity and was of great help in determining the appropriate types of treatment. Corrections were made in 12 patients by the mandibular body ostectomy in the premolar region; the curved oblique osteotomy, in which the ascending ramus was cut obliquely on a curved line from the anterior border of the ramus to the angle, was used for the treatment of the remaining 17 patients. The resulting profile and occlusal improvements were satisfactory, Preoperative orthodontic treatment such as leveling of the dental arches, expansion of the upper dental arch to accommodate the maxilla to the mandible, correction of the upper and lower incisal inclinations, extraction of the premolars to decrease horizontal discrepancy or alignment of malpositioned teeth, and postoperative adjustment were effective in providing definite changes in profile and a stable occlusion-an important factor in the prevention of postoperative relapse.