Abstract: To evaluate the treatment response of palatal expansion and reversepull face mask to the maxilla in children with skeletal class III malocclusions. Methods: With a protraction force of 600～800?gm per side, the patients, including 9 boys and 13 girls at a mean age of 9.8 years were treated for 0.7 years until a 2mm positive overjet had been attained. Radiographs were taken before treatment (T1), immediately after face mask treatment (T2), and 1.4 years after treatment (T3) and compared with results from 22 children with matched age, sex and mandibular plane angle who were not treated. Results: The anterior maxilla was protracted forward 1.6 mm per year more than normal. The posterior maxilla dropped inferiorly more than the anterior maxilla. The mandile was rotated downward and backward, whereas the lower incisors were upright. After treatment, the maxilla relapsed relatively backward in the anterior and upward in the posterior, negated some of the treatment response. The mandible resumed a normal growth direction, and the lower incisors flared more than normal. Conclusion: Palatal expansion and reversepull face mask to the maxilla of skeletal class III malocclusions have salutary effect for alleviating of the severity of malocclusion.

Key words: Skeletal class III malocclusions, Maxillary protraction, Radiographs