• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.694-699
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• 2001

The prognosis for class III patients in growing child can be made in mixed dentition and the severity of the symptom is often amenable to early intervention. Class III malocclusion can be classified as functional class lit and skeletal origin. Skeletal Class III malocclusion is usually characterized by overdeveloped mandible, underdeveloped maxilla, but the cause of pseudo class III is most dentoalveolar or functional shift of mandible. The primary goal of early intervention of malocclusion is to supply an environment that is conducive to the development of favorable occlusal relationships and avoiding of worsening of the problems. Inverted labial bow appliance is introduced as an appliance to combine the advantage of active plate and activator. It is undemanding with this appliance to initiate not only dentoalveolar expansion of upper dentition but also to orient the functional retrusion of mandible. With simple design the compliance for patients such as mouth breathing problem can be improved. For successful use of this appliance it is utmost important to make accurate and early diagnosis between pseudo- and skeletal class III malocclusion. This article will demonstrate the use of an Inverted labial bow appliance for early treatment of a functional Class III malocclusion. After 4 month treatment, anterior crossbite was treated and the results were achieved mainly dentoalveolar change of upper and lower anterior teeth.