Assessment of Dentoskeletal Effects Concomitant With Skeletally Anchored Maxillary Protraction in Orthodontic Skeletal Class III Patients

Skeletal Class III is a challenging problem that is confronting orthodontists in their everyday orthodontic practice. The prevalence of this malocclusion varies globally among and within populations with the greatest incidence among Asian countries. It was reported that Class III malocclusion represents 3.98% and 5.93% of malocclusions in mixed and permanent dentitions respectively. Among Egyptians, the prevalence of Class III malocclusion during mixed dentition was found to be 5.9 % according to the sample studied by Fsifis et al.

Different skeletal components contribute to the development of the classic Class III with convex or straight profiles. These components are either maxillary retrognathism, mandibular prognathism relative to other craniofacial structures, or even a combination of them. According to the sample studied by Ellis and Macnamara, they found 65% to 67% of skeletal Class III was due to maxillary skeletal retrusion.

The growth and severity of the sagittal skeletal discrepancy dictate the possible treatment modalities. On one hand, Growth modification is indicated in individuals who have not reached the growth spurt yet. On the other hand, cessation of growth leaves only orthodontic camouflage and orthognathic surgery as treatment options, the severity of the anteroposterior discrepancy and dental compensation determine which of them gives the best clinical results.

The most common approach for the treatment of growing Class III patients with maxillary retrognathism is the facemask (FM) accompanied by rapid maxillary expansion (RME). RME was claimed to open the midpalatal suture and affect the other nine sutures adjacent to the maxilla. Accordingly, it is said to facilitate the orthopedic effect of the facemask. However, a meta-analysis concluded that treatment with facemask with or without RME is clinically effective with a nonsignificant difference.

Forces from protraction facemask are applied to dental structures so, it has side effects as mesial movement and extrusion of maxillary molars, proclination of upper incisors, retroclination of mandibular incisors, backward rotation of the mandible, and increase in the lower facial height. These side effects might be desirable or undesirable according to the clinical situation.