The Class III malocclusion, essentially of skeletal origin, produces an accentuated facial deformity. These malocclusion can be intercepted during the growth phase and craniofacial development by the use of orthopedical appliances. The mandibular growth, predominantly endocondral at the condilar cartilage, follows a genetic control essentially. Therefore, the effect of orthopedical appliances that aim restriction in the jaw's growth are shown limited, what leads to a poor prognostic of precocious treatment of the Class III determined by a mandibular prognathism. Fortunately, the skeletal maxillary component answers better to the application of orthopedical forces, since the growth of intramembranous bone is shown more susceptible to extrinsic influences. This way, the Class III morphologically defined by the maxillary retrognatism is privileged with the orthopedical treatment. This work discuss the interceptive treatment of Class III through the maxillary protraction in patients with different facial patterns, through the presentation of two clinical cases, and still focuss on the concerning aspects of its stability.
Facemask therapy; Rapid maxillary expansion; Skeletal prognatism; Mesiocclusion
