Extractive orthopaedic treatment to compensate for skeletal Class III in preadolescents

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of extractive or-thopaedic orthodontic treatment in mixed late denti-tion in two female patients presenting Class III mal-occlusion and hyperdivergent facial types due to maxillary retrusion. Materials and Methods: The or- thopaedic phase, carried out using posteroanterior extraoral traction combined with rapid palatal ex-panders, was followed by extraction of four premo-lars and application of bidimensional technique fixed appliances (Boston University). Results: We achieved functional and aesthetic improvement via normalisa-tion of the transversal dimensions and a sagittal in-crease in the maxilla while maintaining vertical sta-bility. The extractions permitted resolution of the crowding problem and normalisation of the overbite and overjet, and Class I molar and canine occlusion was achieved. Conclusions: Timely intervention and exploitation of extractive space to compensate for skeletal alterations using only orthopaedic orthodon-tic treatment can allow achievement of excellent re-sults.