Cranio-facial growth and relaps factors in class iii malocclusions [Crescita cranio-facciale e fattori di recidiva delle iii classi]

Objectives. To analyze cranio-facial growth in Class III malocclusions and relapse factors. Methods. Information about growth in different types of malocclusions and dentoskeletal disharmonies are essential to plan orthodontic treatment, to forecast growth trends and to refer to adequate control data when evaluating treatment outcomes. Mandibular growth in Class III subjects is more pronounced, occurring with a delayed peak during adolescence and lasting longer than in subjects with normal occlusion. Results. The overall amount of mandibular growth, the negligible increase in maxillary size and the more vertical direction of growth in young adulthood are unfavorable aspects of Class III malocclusion in both sexes in the post pubertal period. Conclusions. Many authors tried to identify some unfavorable skeletal components that should induce the clinician to choose a combined surgicalorthodontic treatment. These predictive components are the increase of mandibular linear dimension and sagittal position, the worsening of skeletal vertical dimension with a clockwise mandibular rotation and increase of gonial angle.