This article presents a novel idea for managing patients with anterior disc displacement without reduction that often develops in susceptible patients during routine orthodontic treatment. The patient was a 24-year-old male who presented with class I right molar and canine relationship and class III left molar and canine relationship on a class I skeletal base, complaining of bimaxillary crowding. The case was treated with fixed orthodontic appliance with maxillary expansion and unilateral mandibular extraction to eliminate the mandibular crowding. Due to a life crisis, the patient developed anterior disc displacement on the right joint. A maxillary occlusal splint was fabricated to reduce the symptoms and attempt to recapture the disc; however, this attempt failed. An attempt was then made to recapture the disc using occlusal pivots and elastics. The disc was eventually recaptured, and the patient resumed normal jaw function and mouth opening. This case report aims to demonstrate a new way to achieve stable occlusion in a patient who sustained disc displacement.

Early treatment of Class III malocclusion provides an improvement in facial appearance and corrects the reverse bite. Orthopedic protraction of maxilla is considered best approach in growing Class III patients with maxillary deficiency. Present case report describes the management of a growing 10-year-old boy with skeletal Class III malocclusion using facemask therapy (Phase 1) followed by fixed orthodontic treatment (Phase 2) based upon cephalometric prognostic findings of growth treatment response vector (GTRV). With the successful orthopedic phase of maxillary protraction with facemask therapy for 7 months of period, a significant improvement in profile had been achieved along with the correction in reverse overjet. This was followed by retention with chin cup therapy for a period of 20 months. After a period of 20 months retention, a fixed orthodontic treatment was started with the objective to achieve stable functional occlusion. After 11 months of treatment with fixed appliance therapy a stable functional occlusion was achieved. The patient was placed on Hawleys retainer in maxillary arch and bonded fixed spiral wire (FSW) retainer in mandibular arch. Successful management of growing Class III patient was done using facemask and fixed orthodontic therapy based upon cephalometric prognostic findings of growth treatment response vector (GTRV).