Dental changes induced by a modified Herbst appliance followed by fixed appliances: A digital dental model analysis

Background: Herbst therapy is an effective treatment for Class II malocclusions. However, the maintenance of the effects after fixed appliances treatment remains questionable. This retrospective study aimed to assess, using digital dental models, the sagittal and transverse dental arch changes in young patients during two Class II Division 1 treatment phases, first with modified Herbst appliance (HA) and then with fixed appliances. Methods: The treated group (TG) comprised 32 patients (17 boys, 15 girls; mean age, 12.85 ± 1.16 years) treated with HA and fixed appliances. The control group comprised 28 patients (13 boys, 15 girls; mean age, 12.21 ± 1.35 years) with untreated Class II malocclusions. Digital models were obtained immediately before and after HA therapy and after fixed appliances. Data were statistically analyzed. Results: Compared with the control group, the TG showed an increase in maxillary and mandibular arch perimeters and in intercanine and intermolar arch widths, a decrease in overjet and overbite, and an improvement in canine and molar relationships. In the time after HA therapy until the end of fixed appliances treatment, the TG showed a decrease in maxillary and mandibular arch perimeters, overjet, upper and lower intermolar widths; an increase in molar Class II relationship; and no changes in canine relationship, overbite, and upper and lower intercanine widths. Conclusions: In this sample of patients treated with HA, on average, there was an improvement in the Class II relationship, which seemed to remain after fixed appliances. The transverse dental changes achieved in HA phase relapsed after treatment with fixed appliances.