Nonsurgical correction of Class III malocclusions: a new approach to treating late adolescents and adults.

This article describes a new nonsurgical orthodontic technique for correcting Class III malocclusions in the adult dentition when orthognathic surgery is not an option. Following a review of the dental literature pertaining to other nonsurgical orthodontic techniques, a nonextraction treatment protocol was established that utilized a mandibular distalizer combined with a maxillary transpalatal unit. Four cases were treated with this new treatment protocol and produced consistent results: anterior and posterior crossbites were corrected; a Class I molar relationship was established; both overbite and overjet were corrected; and there was no undesirable tipping of the mandibular molars.