A patient's facial profile looks normal, but their occlusion is altered. Which dental condition is most likely?

A normal facial profile (soft tissue profile) suggests that the skeletal (jaw) relationships are normal. Altered occlusion without facial profile changes is most consistent with a dental discrepancy rather than a skeletal discrepancy. Dental crowding results from inadequate arch space relative to tooth size, causing malalignment without changing the jaw relationship or facial profile. Skeletal overjet or overbite would typically produce changes in the facial profile (e.g., retrusive chin, full lips). This distinction between dental versus skeletal malocclusion is fundamental in orthodontic diagnosis.