Skeletal Class III Dentofacial Deformity with an Open Bite Treated by Orthodontics and Orthognathic Surgery – a Case Report

The class iii skeletal deformity with open bite may be due to a horizontal excess of the mandible, an anteroposterior deficiency of the maxilla, or both. in most cases, there is a posterior vertical maxillary excess that creates the anterior open bite. Treatment of open bite deformities is known to be difficult and results are not always predictable. Growth modification and orthodontic camouflage not only can compromise the aesthetics but also can jeopardize the stability of the results. in such cases the combined surgical – orthodontic correction is considered the best treatment modality. simultaneous mobilization of the maxilla and mandible is often needed to correct severe class iii dentofacial deformities with accompanying open bite. in the treatment of these malformations it has been shown that the composed approach is very important to achieve high-quality functional and aesthetical results. The authors present a case of 18-year-old female patient with a class iii dentofacial deformity with an open bite interdisciplinary treated using orthodontics and orthognathic surgery. They demonstrate the stages of planning and discuss surgical techniques and results obtained (Dent. Med. Probl. 2010, 47, 2, 237–244).