Skeletal Class III
A jaw-relationship classification in which the mandible is positioned anteriorly relative to the maxilla, resulting in a negative ANB angle and typically a concave facial profile.
Full Definition
Skeletal Class III (written with a Roman numeral) describes a jaw-base relationship in which the mandible is prognathic, the maxilla is retrognathic, or both, producing an ANB angle that is negative or significantly reduced from the normative mean. The facial profile is characteristically concave. It must be distinguished from a Class III molar relationship, which is a dental classification, and from mandibular prognathism, which specifically implicates excess mandibular size. Editors must use the Roman numeral 'III', not the Arabic numeral '3'. Capitalise 'Class' in all usages.
Usage
Usage note: Always use Roman numerals (Class III, not Class 3). Capitalise 'Class'. Do not conflate skeletal and dental classifications.
In Context
- "The cephalometric findings confirmed a Skeletal Class III relationship with a negative ANB angle of −3°." — Cephalometric analysis report
- "The editor reminded the author that Roman numerals are required: 'Skeletal Class III', not 'Skeletal Class 3'." — Copyediting annotation