“Can I have orthodontic advice for class 3 malocclusion?”

I am a practicing orthodontist in my 59th year and just happen to be a Class III, Your orthodontist advising you to wait until growth has ceased is right and that can be determined by a wrist Xray or vertebrae analysis on Xray read by a radiologist. There is nothing you can do to suppress genetic mandibular growth so chin straps and functional appliances are a waste of time and money. The mandible will grow to its determined length regardless, so wait until the proper time so you can diagnose the true nature of the problem surgical or non surgical correction and which jaw, upper lower or both is the problem. If the upper jaw is back of normal, then early treatment with a reverse headgear is effective, but may need to be repeated over timeThe lower incisor crowding is not an issue until comprehensive treatment is undertaken.Girls can be treated earlier than boys who we wait until they are in their 20's if we can convince inpatients parents . Class III cases are our most difficult to handle since the mandible always has two open growth sites. A fair number, if treated too early, will need retreatment when older. Hope this helps, it seems like you needed a better explanation of an unpredictable situation. Dr. Harrison.

I would seek a second opinion. Often when a Class III malocclusion is not hereditary it can be corrected very easily while the patient is still growing. If you wait until growth is completed you lose any opportunity to use growth to your advantage. In my practice even if I know a patient has a family history of Class III skeletal growth we still recommend early treatment in order to gain an advantage long term. Hope this helps. All the best.

From what Ive understood of your daughters case, you can always have a second opinion, in orthodontic treatments every dr has their own approach of the treatment.

Hi there. It is best to take cephalometri xrays with the orthodontist and they would be able to do a longitudinal growth assessment to see if growth is almost complete prior to beginning orthodontic treatment. I you are moving to LA, it may be best to establish care with an orthodontist there and take all previous records to them to evaluate as well.

You got an interesting dilemma and I applaud you on your diligence and understanding the intricacies of a class 3 malocclusion in a female of adolescent age. Not only is this is a most difficult period In her life but it's also the most difficult orthodontic problem to treat. Favorable outcomes are diminished by growth an inherited skeletal height from parents, not to mention cooperation by the patient. The final blow is is the case never looks great until it's done. I've seen many of these cases work out poorly and require surgery even after having worn the braces for 3 years and that's taking into allowance for the occasional misdiagnosed case as well as poor compliance by the patient. You are fortunate in that UCLA Dental School is in the neighborhood and I would put her up for screening if I were you and be treated right where the text books are written.

Get a second opinion

Hi,

Hope the move to LA went well!! Class III is a difficult task...the diagnosis is very important. As I am not an orthodontist, I can only give you my thoughts. Depending on the ceph analysis, we can determine what the growth pattern is for the child; if the child is a vertical growth pattern with an anterior open bite, it will be advisable to wait till after her growth spurt, as her continued growth will result in a failed orthodontic treatment, i.e., open bite reoccurs. Sometimes, regardless of interceptive attempts, jaw surgery may still be required. Another reason to possibly wait till after growth. Again, very difficult to assess without all the information. But do seek out a reputable orthodontist in your new neighborhood and ask all your questions.

Hope this helped.