Preliminary Research on Orthodontic Management of Class III Malocclusion: Focus on Non-Extraction Treatment with Illustrative Extraction Cases

Background: Orthodontic management of Class III malocclusion poses clinical challenges, particularly in selecting extraction or non-extraction treatment strategies. Soft tissue profile response is a critical factor in treatment planning, yet available evidence remains limited, especially from preliminary studies with unbalanced treatment distributions.

Objective: This preliminary research aimed to describe orthodontic management of Class III malocclusion with a primary focus on non-extraction treatment, while presenting extraction cases as illustrative clinical examples to demonstrate soft tissue profile changes.

Discussion: A total of 23 patients with Class III malocclusion were included, consisting of 21 non-extraction cases and 2 extraction cases. Soft tissue profile changes were evaluated using pre- and post-treatment lateral cephalometric records and clinical documentation. Findings from non-extraction cases demonstrated variable soft tissue responses, with some patients showing improvement in facial profile harmony, while others exhibited relatively stable soft tissue characteristics. The extraction cases illustrated additional patterns of soft tissue adaptation following extraction-based orthodontic management. Overall, soft tissue responses did not follow a uniform pattern and appeared to be influenced by individual clinical conditions.

Conclusion: This preliminary research highlights the heterogeneous nature of soft tissue responses following orthodontic management of Class III malocclusion. Non-extraction treatment may provide favorable outcomes in selected cases, while extraction treatment illustrates alternative clinical adaptations. These findings emphasize the importance of individualized treatment planning and support the need for further studies with larger and more balanced samples.