Adult Class III Patients

Adult Class III patients are individuals with a specific Angle classification of occlusion where the mandibular teeth occlude ahead of the maxillary teeth. This condition often reflects a skeletal pattern of mandibular protrusion or maxillary deficiency. Because skeletal growth is complete in adults, these cases present distinct treatment challenges compared to growing patients.

Clinical management is complex, as there is no accurate model to determine which patients can be treated with orthodontic camouflage alone versus those requiring orthognathic surgery. Severe cases typically require combined orthodontic-surgical treatment, and skeletal Class III deformity is the most prevalent condition among patients seeking orthognathic surgery.

Innovation in this space is relevant due to the difficulty of achieving acceptable results with orthodontics alone and the recognized risk of post-surgical relapse. Patients are further categorized by vertical dimension into high-angle and low-angle cases, which influence facial form and treatment planning.