symmetry
S S
Case Report
Surgical-Orthodontic Diagnosis and Treatment Planning in an
Asymmetric Skeletal Class III Patient—A Case Report
Francisco Vale
1,
* , Catarina Nunes
1
, Adriana Guimarães
1
, Anabela Baptista Paula
1,2,3,4,5
and Inês Francisco
1
Citation: Vale, F.; Nunes, C.;
Guimarães, A.; Paula, A.B.; Francisco,
I. Surgical-Orthodontic Diagnosis and
Treatment Planning in an Asymmetric
Skeletal Class III Patient—A Case
Report. Symmetry 2021, 13, 1150.
https://doi.org/10.3390/sym13071150
Academic Editor: Chiarella Sforza
Received: 8 June 2021
Accepted: 24 June 2021
Published: 27 June 2021
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1
Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Orthodontics, University of Coimbra, Área de Medicina Dentária—Av.
Bissaya Barreto, Bloco de Celas, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal; uc2019185767@student.uc.pt (C.N.);
uc45131@uc.pt (A.G.); anabelabppaula@sapo.pt (A.B.P.); uc43891@uc.pt (I.F.)
2
Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Integrated Clinical Practice, University of Coimbra,
3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal
3
Faculty of Medicine, Area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Coimbra Institute for
Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal
4
Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra,
3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal
5
Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal
* Correspondence: fvale@fmed.uc.pt
Abstract: The skeletal Class III pattern is characterized by a sagittal intermaxillary mesial discrep-
ancy. This discrepancy may have an unfavorable impact on function and aesthetics, which can be
aggravated by the presence of facial asymmetries. This case report describes the diagnosis and
treatment planning of a 19-year-old male patient with a skeletal Class III, maxillary hypoplasia,
anterior crossbite, and mandibular asymmetry. When the patient reached skeletal maturity at the end
of puberty, the definitive diagnosis was skeletal Class III with hyperdivergent profile and mandibular
asymmetry, and a surgical-orthodontic treatment was proposed. At the end of the treatment, bimaxil-
lary surgical correction allowed a skeletal Class I with mandibular symmetry, improving the function
of the stomatognathic system and facial aesthetics.
Keywords: aesthetics; asymmetry; dentistry; case report; orthodontics; orthognathic surgery; skeletal
class III
1. Introduction
Nowadays, dentofacial aesthetics of the smile and face symmetry are two factors
considered in social comparisons [1], i.e., a symmetrical smile is considered more attrac-
tive [2]. Additionally, orthodontic treatment has been demonstrated to increase oral health
parameters [3]. Facial asymmetry can manifest as a part of disharmony of the craniofacial
complex, altering the proportions between the facial thirds [4], having skeletal, dental, and
soft tissue involvement [5]. According to Thiesen et al., the prevalence of facial asymmetry
varied from 11 to 37% [6], being 61% more prevalent in skeletal Class III patients [7] than
skeletal Class II [4].
The assessment of facial asymmetry is usually performed by comparing the distance
between gnation or ment points and the facial midline [4]. The etiology is not entirely
known, but several genetic and environmental risk factors are identified [4,5]. Most cases
of facial asymmetry have a mandibular origin, resulting in a deviation of the lower third of
the face [6]. Additionally, the mandible has a longer growth period, which increases the
probability of being more affected than other structures. Haraguchi et al. reported that the
longer growth and the mobility of the mandible promotes a more asymmetrical growth
than the maxilla, which is connected to the adjacent skeletal structures [8]. Moreover,
Severt and Proffit reported a prevalence of 85% of lateral excursion to the left in patients
with dentofacial deformities with mandibular deviation [9].
Symmetry 2021, 13, 1150. https://doi.org/10.3390/sym13071150 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/symmetry