Epidemiology of Hoffmeister's genetically determined predisposition to disturbed development of the dentition in patients with true skeletal class III malocclusion.

Aim: The prevalence of symptoms of Hoffmeister's "genetically determined predisposition to disturbed development of the dentition" as studied in patients with true skeletal Class III malocclusion; results of the study were compared with those found in the scientific literature regarding samples from the normal population and from orthodontic patients.

Patients And Methods: The prevalence of 20 defined symptoms was evaluated in 120 patients with true skeletal Class III malocclusion. The patients were selected on the basis of a positive family history and on the presentation of typical characteristics of a skeletal Class III morphology in a lateral cephalogram.