Different approaches for management of Class III siblings: A long-term follow-up of two case reports

Class III malocclusion can be varied in presentation and progression. This report describes the presentation, course of treatment and long-term follow-up of two siblings with Class III malocclusion. Two cases discussed in this report were different in their presentation. Sibling 1, a 19-year-old male patient had developed skeletal Class III malocclusion with severe maxillomandibular discrepancy, showing both components of maxillary hypoplasia and mandibular prognathism & asymmetry with average growth pattern. Sibling 2, a 13-year-old male patient had developed a Class III malocclusion with maxillary retrognathism with vertical growth pattern. An insight into the similarities and dissimilarities in the presentation, course of treatment and long-term follow-up of the two cases is provided. The two cases were successfully managed with entirely different treatment approaches. Sibling 1 underwent maxillary advancement with Le Fort I surgery and mandibular set back and rotation with bilateral sagittal split osteotomy which was preceded by pre-surgical orthodontic treatment with extraction of upper first premolars for orthodontic decompensation. Sibling 2 was treated with skeletally anchored facemask therapy followed by fixed mechanotherapy. Acceptable clinical outcome with long-term stability of the treatment results was observed in the two siblings. Orthognathic surgery may be completely avoided later if early orthopaedic treatment to advance the maxilla is initiated at an appropriate age.