Aim: To highlight the effectiveness of orthodontic treatment without headgear through the case records of a patient with a Class II, Division 2 malocclusion and temporomandibular dysfunction. Methods: A 10 1/2-year-old Japanese female patient with a skeletal Class II, Division 2 malocclusion and temporomandibular dysfunction is presented. Mandibular growth and movement have been apparently restricted by severely retroclined maxillary and mandibular incisors together with abnormal masticatory and other perioral muscle function. This has resulted in a disharmonious development of the maxillofacial skeleton, morphologic abnormalities, and asymmetries of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) structures, including condyles, fossae, and rami, and particularly aberrant right and left vertical TMJ dimensions with displacement of the condyles and discs. Function was adversely affected, inducing TMJ symptoms. Essential requisites of early treatment were creating optimal occlusal contact and smooth jaw movement as well as correcting mandibular position with adequate posterior support and anterior guidance. A removable appliance was used for the phase 1 treatment to alleviate the TMJ symptoms and to correct interferences in the posterior segments. In the phase 2 treatment, the patient was treated by removal of 4 premolars with the Begg technique without headgear. The Begg technique and short Class II and vertical elastics in the posterior area were used to establish a stable occlusion with normal overjet and overbite to reduce TMJ symptoms, normalize chewing muscle activity, and reconstruct the curve of Spee and functional occlusal plane by uprighting and equalizing the bilateral posterior vertical dimensions. Results: Improvement of the vertical occlusal relationship was accomplished through the increase of the posterior vertical dimension rather than by intrusion of maxillary and mandibular incisors, which were already in a correct vertical position. TMJ symptoms did not recur during the follow-up period. World J Orthod 2000;1:173-186.