Long-term effects of Herbst treatment in relation to normal growth development: a cephalometric study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term effects of Herbst appliance treatment in relation to normal growth and development. The sample consisted of 32 subjects (16 boys and 16 girls) with a Class II, division 1 malocclusion treated successfully with the Herbst appliance for an average period of 7 months. The patients were reinvestigated 6 months post-treatment when the occlusion had settled and at the end of the growth period, an average of 6.7 years (SD = 1.1 years) after therapy. The control group comprised of 32 subjects (16 boys and 16 girls) with excellent occlusion (Bolton Standards). Sagittal, skeletal, and dental changes occurring during three observation periods were evaluated on lateral cephalograms in centric occlusion. On a long-term basis, Herbst treatment improved the sagittal jaw base relationship, but did not normalize it. The sagittal dental arch relationship, on the other hand, was almost normalized.