CONTEMPORARY MANAGEMENT OF CLASS III MALOCCLUSION: A NARRATIVE REVIEW OF ETIOLOGY, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT STRATEGIES ACROSS THE GROWTH CONTINUUM

Class III malocclusion is a multifactorial dentofacial deformity characterised by an abnormal sagittal relationship between the maxilla and mandible, most commonly manifesting as maxillary retrognathia, mandibular prognathism, or a combination of both. Its prevalence varies markedly across populations, from below two percent in several Indian and Northern European cohorts to over fifteen percent in East and Southeast Asian groups, reflecting an interplay of genetic, environmental, and functional determinants. Because the disorder spans dental, skeletal, and functional dimensions, accurate differential diagnosis - distinguishing true skeletal Class III from dentoalveolar compensation and pseudo (functional) Class III - underpins rational treatment planning. This review synthesises the etiology, classification, epidemiology, and stepwise management of Class III malocclusion across the growth continuum. In growing patients, correction of simple crossbites, functional appliance therapy, chin-cup treatment, and maxillary protraction with or without rapid maxillary expansion remain central to interceptive management, with the Growth Treatment Response Vector offering a means of predicting subsequent mandibular growth and guiding the decision between camouflage and surgery.