Classification of
malocclusion
Dr. Mohamed Noor Ali Abdelatti
Classification of malocclusion
Is broadly divided into:
1-Intra-arch malocclusion (variation in individual tooth
position)
2- Inter-arch malocclusion (malrelation of dental arches to one
another)
3-Skeletal malocclusion ( the problem in the bony base)
Interarch malocclusion
1- Saggital (Anterio-Posterior) relationship :
- A- Angle's classification :
Class I Angles classification:: the mesio-buccal cusp of maxillary first permanent molar
occludes in the buccal groove of the mandibular first permanent molar
Class II Angles classification : mesio-buccal cusp of maxillary first permanent molar
occludes anterior to the buccal groove of the lower first permanent molar, has two divisions
A- Class 11 division 1 characterized by proclined upper incisors which increase the overjet
B- class 11 division 2 characterized by lingual inclination (retroclination) of upper central
incisors and labial inclination( proclination) of upper lateral incisors or retroclination of both
upper central and lateral incisors with proclination of upper canines
Interarch malocclusion
¨3-Class 111 Angles malocclusion:
the mesio-buccal cusp of maxillary first permanent molar occludes posterior to the
buccal groove of maindibular first permanent molar(or in inter-dental space between
mandibular first and second molar
¨Class 11 subdivision: is a term used when class 11 molar relation is on one side and
other side is class 1
¨Class 111 subdivision: is a term used when a molar relation is class 111 on one side and
other side is class 1
Interarch malocclusion
B-British standards institute classification(BSI) :
¨1- Class 1: the lower incisor edges occlude with or lie immediately below the cingulum
plateau of the upper central incisors
¨2- Class 11: the lower incisor edges lie posterior to the cingulum plateau of the upper central
incisors, has two divisions
¨Division 1 : the upper central incisors are proclined or of average inclination with an
increased over jet
¨Division 2: the upper central incisors are retroclined, the over jet is usually minimal or may be increased
¨3- Class 111: the lower incisor edges lie anterior to the cingulum plateau of the upper incisor , the over jet is
reduced or reversed
Interarch malocclusion
¨Vertical plane relationship:
Deep bite( closed bite): upper anterior teeth overlap more than 1/3 of the crown of lower
anterior teeth
Open bite: there is no vertical overlap between the upper and lower teeth (space is existing
between upper and lower teeth) open bite can be in the anterior or the posterior region
Interarch malocclusion
¨Transverse plane malocclusion( horizontal):
¨Cross bite : one or more maxillary teeth are placed palatal or lingual to mandibular teeth
¨Scissor bite: one or more maxillary teeth are placed more bucally to mandibular teeth
Intra-arch malocclusion(individual teeth
malposition)
1-Tipping(inclination,tilting);it is abnormal inclination of the crown either in mesial direction
,distal direction, labial/buccal or lingual/ palatal direction The labial tipping is known as
proclination, while the lingual and palatal tipping are known as retroclination
¨2- Displacement: the crown and root are moved in the same direction( bodily movement) it
could be in mesial, distal, lingual/palatal or labial/buccal directions( e.g mesial displacement
the whole tooth moved mesially)
¨3-Infra-occlusion( infraversion) tooth not erupted enough compared to the other teeth in the
arch
¨4-Supra-occlusion (supra-version) tooth has over-erupted as compared to the other teeth in
the arch
Intra-arch malocclusion(individual teeth
malposition)
¨5-Rotation: movement of the tooth around its long axis (mesio-lingual rotation or
disto-labial rotation) is the movement of tooth around its long axis so that the
mesial aspect is more lingually placed
¨6- transposition: two teeth have exchanged their places.
¨7- crowding: is positional irregularities of teeth crowns
¨8- spacing; gap is present between the teeth
Resources :
1-Textbook of orthodontics
2-An introduction to orthodontics
