Class I malocclusions—The development and etiology of mandibular malalignments

Class I malocclusion is the most prevalent form of malocclusion, even more prevalent than normal occlusion, and there is no clear consensus concerning its etiology. To understand its etiology, how and when this form of malocclusion develops must be fully appreciated. Understanding the development and etiology of Class I malocclusion is fundamentally important for determining the treatment and post-treatment methods that will be most effective. Rather than thinking of it as a static state, Class I malocclusion should be viewed as a process, as a maladaptation of the dentoalveolar complex. The purpose of this article is to comprehensively review the various factors that help explain this process.