Classification of Face and Teeth

Classification of Teeth

The classification of bites are broken up into three main categories: Class I, II, and III.

Class 1:
Class I is a normal relationship between the upper teeth, lower teeth and jaws or balanced bite.

Class I Normal
Normal

Class I Crowding
Crowding

Class I Spacing
Spacing

Class II:
Class II is where the lower first molar is posterior (or more towards the back of the mouth) than the upper first molar. In this abnormal relationship, the upper front teeth and jaw project further forward than the lower teeth and jaw. There is a convex appearance in profile with a receding chin and lower lip. Class II problems can be due to insufficient growth of the lower jaw, an over growth of the upper jaw or a combination of the two. In many cases, Class II problems are genetically inherited and can be aggravated by environmental factors such as finger sucking. Class II problems are treated via growth redirection to bring the upper teeth, lower teeth and jaws into harmony.

Class II Division I
Division 1

Class II Division II
Division 2

Class III:
Class III is where the lower first molar is anterior (or more towards the front of the mouth) than the upper first molar. In this abnormal relationship, the lower teeth and jaw project further forward than the upper teeth and jaws. There is a concave appearance in profile with a prominent chin. Class III problems are usually due to an overgrowth in the lower jaw, undergrowth of the upper jaw or a combination of the two. Like Class II problems, they can be genetically inherited.

Class III Skeleton
Skeleton

Class III Dental
Dental

Classification of Face

It is not sufficient to categorize orthodontic malocclusions on the basis of a classification of the teeth alone. The relationship with other craniofacial structures must also be taken into consideration.

Class 1:

Maxillary-Mandibular Dental Protrusion  teeth
Maxillary-Mandibular Dental     Protrusion teeth:
This is an example of a dental    malocclusion that may require    the removal of teeth for              correction.

Maxillary-Mandibular Dental Retrusion  teeth
Maxillary-Mandibular Dental    Retrusion teeth:
This is an example of a dental    malocclusion that may be          treated with expansion           rather than removing teeth.

Class 2:

Maxillary Dental Protrusion  teeth
Maxillary Dental

Protrusion teeth:
This malocclusion may require    the removal of teeth.

Mandibular Retrognathism  jaws
Mandibular Retrognathism jaws:
The lower          jawbone has    not grown as     much as the     upper jaw. This  example of a      Class II               malocclusion demonstrates the need for       early growth      guidance.

Maxillary Dental Protrusion  teeth & Mandibular Retrognathism  jaws
Maxillary Dental Protrusion  teeth &          Mandibular Retrognathism jaws:
These Class      malocclusions  are more            difficult to treat  due to the          skeletal disharmony and may require      orthognathic surgery in       conjunction with orthodontic treatment.

Class 3:

Mandibular Dental Protrusion  teeth
Mandibular Dental Protrusion   teeth:
The lower teeth are too far in      front of the upper teeth. This      malocclusion is treated with       orthodontic procedures which     may require the extraction of      teeth due to the dental               protrusion.


Mandibular Prognathism jaws:
The lower jaw bone has            outgrown the upper jaw. This      malocclusion is more difficult to  treat due to the skeletal             disharmony and may require      orthognathic surgery in               conjunction with orthodontic       treatment.