Treatment of class III malocclusion with NITI expander and class III elastics: A camouflage

Angle’s Class III malocclusion is a dental discrepancy in a sagittal view that may appear or not with an important skeletal discrepancy. Facial esthetics may be affected by this skeletal discrepancy and it is one of the most common complaints of patients who seek orthodontic treatment. Class III treatment, in adults, may be done by compensatory tooth movement, in simple cases, or through an association between orthodontics and orthognathic surgery, in more severe cases. This article describes an adult male patient with skeletal and dental Class III malocclusion. The severity of the malocclusion was within the camouflage limits so this approach for treatment was decided. Upper arch was constricted and a bilateral posterior cross bite was seen. Upper arch was expanded using NiTi expander. Class III elastics were used to attain optimum overjet, Class I molar and canine relationship. At the end of the treatment full intercuspation was achieved, profile of the patient improved with positive overjet and overbite.