Objective: The aim of this prospective study was to assess potential changes in the cephalometric craniofacial growth pattern of 17 children presenting Angle Class III malocclusion treated with a Haas-type expander combined with a face mask. Methods:Lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken at beginning (T 1 ) and immediately after removal of the appliances (T 2 ), average of 11 months of treatment. Linear and angular measurements were used to evaluate the cranial base, dentoskeletal changes and facial growth pattern. Results:The length of the anterior cranial base experienced a reduction while the posterior cranial base assumed a more vertical position at T 1 . Some maxillary movement occurred, there was no rotation of the palatal plane, there was a slight clockwise rotation of the mandible, although not significant. The ANB angle increased, thereby improving the relationship between the jaws; dentoalveolar compensation was more evident in the lower incisors. Five out of 12 cases (29.41%) showed the following changes: In one case the pattern became more horizontal and in four cases more vertical. Conclusions:It was concluded after a short-term assessment that treatment with rapid maxillary expansion (RME) associated with a face mask was effective in the correction of Class III malocclusion despite the changes in facial growth pattern observed in a few cases.

Objective To compare the position and shape of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) articular disc among the sagittal and vertical skeletal patterns in Angle Class III, Class III subdivision malocclusion and normal occlusion. The null hypothesis was that there was no difference in disc position and shape in different (1) malocclusions and (2) skeletal patterns. Methods This cross‐sectional observational study evaluated 105 patients divided into 3 groups: Class III (33, 9.39 ± 1.96 years), Class III subdivision (45, 9.51 ± 1.59 years) and a normal occlusion (27, 10.24 ± 0.87 years) was included as healthy control. Severity of the maxilla‐mandibular anteroposterior discrepancy and vertical facial pattern were determined using 2D cephalometry, and the position and shape of the articular discs were evaluated in magnetic resonance images. Statistical parametric and non‐parametric tests and Kappa analysis for intra‐observer and inter‐observer assessment were used (p ≤ .05). Results Significant between‐group differences were found in articular disc position. In the normal occlusion group, all the articular discs were well positioned. In Class III and Class III subdivision, the discs were displaced in 30.3% and 12.2% of the TMJs, respectively. Sagittal and vertical skeletal patterns did not affect the findings significantly. The Class III subdivision malocclusion group is probably different from the other groups, showing 97.7% of biconcave discs in both TMJs. Conclusion The longitudinal follow‐up of this sample becomes relevant as the two groups with malocclusion in the pre‐peak phase of pubertal growth showed differences in the prevalence of displacement and form of the articular disc, with no association with their vertical facial characteristics.

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