Orthodontic Treatment of an Adult Class III Malocclusion with Severe Transverse Dental Compensation by Remaining of Buccal Crossbite.

Unlabelled: This case report describes the importance of preventing more excessive transverse dental compensation during orthodontic treatment for a patient with severe transverse skeletal discrepancy.

Summary: The patient, a 33-years-old Japanese woman, had severe transverse skeletal discrepancy involving the maxilla and mandible. In addition, she had an extreme transverse dental compensation of the posterior teeth in mandibular arch (i.e. excessive lingual inclination of mandibular molars).

Aim: Therefore, the main treatment objectives were to prevent more excessive transverse dental compensation by orthodontic treatment and improve the occlusal function.

Method: We chose non-surgical orthodontic treatment. Because this patient did not think that the esthetic improvement with surgery would be worth the risk.

Result: The orthodontic treatment resulted in sufficient elimination of the transverse dental compensation and movement of the teeth into their proper position where basal bone firmly support them. Anterior crossbite was corrected with remaining buccal crossbite, facial profile was improved and functional occlusion was obtained. At 2 years 2 months after the orthodontic treatment, the facial profile and occlusion remained favorable.

Conclusion: This report would become an alternative to ideal treatment for a case with transverse skeletal discrepancy.