A comparison of splinted and banded Herbst appliances: treatment changes and complications

The aims of this study were to compare the frequency of clinical problems, such as fracture and dislodgment, and the dentofacial changes in 28 13-year-old Chinese children with Class II, division 1 nalocclusions treated with either cast-metal splinted Herbst appliances or banded Herbst appliances. ne first fourteen children were treated with a maximum anchorage type of banded Herbst appliance for six months, and the remainder were treated with cast-silver splinted Herbst appliances for seven months. The dentofacial form and the treatment changes were assessed with one aid of pre- and post-treatment lateral cephalometric radiographs. The number of visits and the number of fractured and dislodged appliances were recorded. Both appliances had similar effects on the dentofacial structures. There were no statistically significant dentofacial differences between the groups at the conclusion of treatment. During treatment relatively few banded appliances were dislodged and few splinted appliances fractured. However, a large number of banded appliances fractured, and a similar number of splinted Herbst appliances were dislodged. The latter required less clinical and laboratory time to service and/or replace. It was concluded that splinted Herbst appliances are preferable to banded Herbst appliances because of the savings in clinical and laboratory time.