Limited Transfer of Class II to Class I Phenotype

Structural differences between various classes of malocclusion dictate variation in response to treatment. Research indicates the limitation of common treatment approaches to transform a Class II, division 1 phenotype to a facial pattern with normal skeletal relationships expected with a Class I phenotype. Available data from untreated Class II further support these observations, leading to the consideration of treatment outcome as the cumulative effect of small to moderate changes in skeletal and dentoalveolar components of the malocclusion, rather than a major change in one of these components.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the components mostly involved in defining the severity of the malocclusion.
• Recognize the limitation of treatment in specific Class II malocclusions.
• Determine how change in various components, rather than in one, affected this outcome.