Prognostic approach to Class III malocclusion through case‐based reasoning

Abstract

ObjectiveThis investigation evaluates the evidence of case‐based reasoning (CBR) in providing additional information on the prediction of future Class III craniofacial growth.Settings and sample populationThe craniofacial characteristics of 104 untreated Class III subjects (7‐17 years of age), monitored with two lateral cephalograms obtained during the growth process, were evaluated.Materials and methodsData were compared with the skeletal characteristics of subjects who showed a high degree of skeletal imbalance (‘prototypes’) obtained from a large data set of 1263 Class III cross‐sectional subjects (7‐17 years of age).ResultsThe degree of similarity of longitudinal subjects with the most unbalanced prototypes allowed the identification of subjects who would develop a subsequent unfavourable skeletal growth (accuracy: 81%). The angle between the palatal plane and the sella‐nasion line (PP‐SN angle) and the Wits appraisal were two additional craniofacial features involved in the early prediction of the adverse progression of the Class III skeletal imbalance.ConclusionsCase‐based reasoning methodology, which uses a personalized inference method, may bring additional information to approximate the skeletal progression of Class III malocclusion.