Treatment of a Class III growing patient with mandibular prognathism and severe anterior crossbite

Abstract

The treatment of growing patients with Class III skeletal pattern represents one of the greatest clinical challenges for the orthodontist. Several treatment protocols have been proposed, almost all involving rapid maxillary expansion and maxillary protraction. However, there are cases where the maxilla is properly positioned in the anteroposterior direction and there is no transverse discrepancy, featuring only a mandibular prognathism. In such cases, when there is a set of favorable factors such as lack of laterognathism and lower mandibular plane angle, a viable option and which could prove quite interesting is the use of orthodontic chin cup during the night, aiming at trying to redirect the forward growth of the mandible. To have success, it is necessary that this procedure involves pubertal growth spurt and is extended to full skeletal maturation. This case was presented to the board of the Brazilian Board of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics (BBO) as part of the requirements to become a BBO Diplomate.