The effect of Herbst appliance treatment on the mandibular plane angle: a cephalometric roentgenographic study

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the individual reaction pattern and the long-term effect of Herbst appliance treatment on the vertical jaw base relationship, as expressed by the mandibular plane angle (ML/NSL). In the evaluation special reference was given to the pretreatment vertical jaw base relationship (hypodivergent, normodivergent or hyperdivergent). Lateral head films of 80 patients (47 males and 33 females) from before, at start (when the appliance was placed) and at the end of Herbst treatment (when the appliance was removed) as well as 6 months and 4.5 to 5 years posttreatment were analyzed. The ML/NSL angle was on the average unaffected by Herbst therapy. Posttreatment, a continuous decrease in the ML/NSL took place. Male subjects showed a larger angular decrease than female subjects. However, a large interindividual variation existed. No statistically significant differences were found between hypodivergent, normodivergent, and hyperdivergent subjects.