Key adverse consequence of uncorrected severe Class III malocclusion during adolescence

 # A key adverse consequence of uncorrected severe Class III malocclusion during adolescence is often an exacerbated negative self-perception primarily due to:

A. The convex profile resulting from the mandibular retrusion

B. Difficulty with mandibular posture and chewing

C. Increased risk of dental trauma to the mandibular incisors

D. The ‘dish face’ concave facial profile with prominent chin (prognathism)

The correct answer is D. The ‘dish face’ concave facial profile with prominent chin (prognathism)

Severe Class III malocclusion in adolescents often manifests as a concave "dish face" profile due to mandibular prognathism or relative maxillary retrusion, creating a prominent chin and retruded midface that deviates markedly from ethnic norms of facial harmony—leading to heightened self-consciousness, bullying, and diminished self-esteem as measured by tools like the Orthognathic Quality of Life Questionnaire (OQLQ), with scores 20–40% lower in untreated cases. Longitudinal psychosocial studies confirm this aesthetic distortion as the primary driver of negative self-perception (effect size d=0.8–1.2), surpassing functional concerns, unlike the convex profile in Class II (A, reversed etiology) or trauma risks more pronounced in protrusive uppers (C).