Class III orthopedic treatment with reverse maxillary traction

Abstract

Class III malocclusion also known as mesiocclusion is defined as the relationship between the dental arches in which the lower teeth occlude in a mesial relationship to the upper teeth. It can be of dental, functional or skeletal origin, and has different degrees of severity. When early diagnosed, Class III malocclusion can be intercepted during the craniofacial growth and development phase using orthopedic appliances. Most cases of Class III malocclusion are caused by deficiency in maxillary development, justifying the use of maxillary protraction with maxillary reverse traction as the early treatment of choice for most of these malocclusions. The objective of this paper is to review the main topics related to the orthopedic treatment of Class III malocclusion with maxillary reverse traction.