Class II Malocclusions: Diagnostic and Clinical Considerations With and Without Treatment

Class II malocclusions are of interest to the practicing orthodontists since they constitute a significant percentage of the cases they treat. In individuals with normal occlusion and skeletal relationship, the amount of maxillary and mandibular growth is synchronized and the result is a well-balanced and esthetically pleasing profile. In individuals with Class II malocclusions, there is an anteroposterior discrepancy between the maxillary and mandibular dentitions, which may or may not be accompanied with a skeletal discrepancy. In growing individuals, the success of treatment is dependent, to a great extent, on the ability of the clinician to influence the relative growth changes in the maxilla and mandible. The purpose of this article is to provide a perspective on the characteristics, development, etiology, and broad treatment considerations in Class II malocclusions.