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Correction of a Class III Malocclusion with a Functional Shift and Severe Crowding
Yahya A Alogaibi1,2, Ahmad A Al-Fraidi2, Manar K Alhajrasi3
1Bisha Dental Center, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 418, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia.
Case Reports in Dentistry
|December 10, 2020
Summary
This case report details an adult patient with a rare forward functional shift of the mandible, successfully treated with tooth extractions and bite adjustment. The treatment resolved anterior and posterior crossbites, improving both function and aesthetics.
Area of Science:
- Dentistry
- Orthodontics
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Background:
- A forward functional shift of the mandible is uncommon in adults and can lead to significant functional and aesthetic issues.
- This condition often presents with malocclusion, such as anterior and posterior crossbites, and can create a pseudo Class III relationship.
Observation:
- The case report focuses on an adult patient exhibiting a forward functional shift of the mandible.
- The patient presented with anterior and posterior crossbites, a pseudo Class III dental and skeletal relationship, severe upper arch crowding with blocked-out canines, and mild lower arch crowding.
Findings:
- Treatment involved extraction of specific premolars (upper first premolars, lower right first premolar).
- A key intervention was bite opening to disrupt the neuromuscular reflex causing mandibular forward protrusion.
- Class III elastics and elastomeric chains were used to close extraction spaces, correcting the malocclusion.
Implications:
- This approach effectively eliminated the forward functional shift in the adult patient.
- Successful treatment resulted in improved functional occlusion and enhanced facial aesthetics.
- The case highlights a viable treatment strategy for managing this unusual adult mandibular deviation.
