Skeletal Class II
A jaw-relationship classification indicating that the maxilla is positioned anteriorly relative to the mandible, or the mandible posteriorly relative to the maxilla, on a skeletal basis.
Full Definition
Skeletal Class II describes a discrepancy in the anteroposterior relationship of the jaws in which the mandible is retropositioned or the maxilla is protruded relative to the cranial base. It is typically assessed via the ANB angle (greater than 4°), Wits appraisal, or other cephalometric measures. Editors must understand the distinction between skeletal and dental classifications: a patient may exhibit a skeletal Class II pattern with a dental Class I molar relationship due to dentoalveolar compensation. The term appears frequently in case reports, treatment plans, and journal articles. It should not be styled as 'Class-II' or 'class 2'.
Usage
Usage note: Always use roman numeral 'II', not the Arabic numeral '2', in formal clinical writing. Distinguish clearly from dental Class II relationship in documents where both may apply.
In Context
- "The patient presented with a Skeletal Class II pattern confirmed by an ANB angle of 6°." — Orthodontic treatment plan
- "Authors should distinguish between a Skeletal Class II jaw relationship and a dental Class II molar occlusion." — Journal manuscript review note