Class II subdivision treatment with the Herbst appliance

To assess the effectiveness of Class II subdivision Herbst nonextraction treatment and its short-term stability retrospectively.

Twenty-two Class II subdivision (SUB: right-left molar difference ≥0.75 cusp width) and 22 symmetric Class II patients (SYM: ≥0.75 cusp width bilaterally) were matched according to gender and pretreatment handwrist radiographic stage. The mean treatment duration of the Herbst and subsequent multibracket phase was 8 months and 14 months, respectively. The mean retention period amounted to 36 months. Dental casts from before treatment (T1), after Herbst treatment (T2), after Multibracket treatment (T3), and after retention (T4) were evaluated.

A bilateral Class I or super Class I molar relationship was seen in 72.7% (SUB) and 77.3% (SYM) at T3. The corresponding values at T4 were 63.7% (SUB) and 72.7% (SYM). A unilateral or bilateral Class III molar relationship was more frequent in the SUB group (T3: +4.6%; T4: +13.6%). For overjet, similar mean values were seen in both groups after treatment (T3: SUB, 2.7 mm; SYM, 2.3 mm) and after retention (T4: SUB, 3.0 mm; SYM, 3.4 mm). This was also true for the midline shift (T3: SUB, -0.4 mm; SYM, 0.0 mm; T4: SUB, -0.3 mm; SYM, 0.0 mm).

Class II subdivision Herbst treatment was successful similarly to symmetric Class II Herbst treatment. However, a slight overcompensation of the molar relationship (Class III tendency) was more frequent in the subdivision patients (original Class I side).