Thirty-two-year follow-up study of Herbst therapy: a biometric dental cast analysis.

INTRODUCTION The aim of this study was to analyze the very long-term effects of Herbst treatment on tooth position and occlusion. SUBJECTS Fourteen patients from a sample of 22 with Class II Division 1 malocclusions consecutively treated with the banded Herbst appliance were reexamined 32 years after therapy. METHODS Dental casts were analyzed from before (T1) and after (T2) treatment, and at 6 years (T3) and 32 years (T4) after treatment. RESULTS Minor changes in maxillary and mandibular dental arch perimeters and arch widths were seen during treatment (T1-T2) and posttreatment (T2-T4). Mandibular incisor irregularity remained, on average, unchanged from T1 to T2 but increased continuously during the 32-year follow-up period (T2-T4). Class II molar and canine relationships were normalized in most patients from T1 to T2. During the early posttreatment period (T2-T3), there was a minor relapse; during the late posttreatment period (T3-T4), molar and canine relationships remained, on average, unchanged. Overjet and overbite were reduced to normal values in all subjects during treatment (T1-T2). After treatment (T2-T4), overjet remained, on average, unchanged, but overbite increased insignificantly. CONCLUSIONS Thirty-two years after Herbst therapy, overall, acceptable long-term results were seen. Stability was found in 64% of the patients for sagittal molar relationships, in 14% for sagittal canine relationships, in 86% for overjet, and in 86% for overbite. A Class II relapse seemed to be caused by an unstable interdigitation of the occluding teeth, a persisting oral habit, or an insufficient retention regimen after treatment. Most posttreatment changes occurred during the first 6 years after treatment. After the age of 20 years, only minor changes were noted. Long-term posttreatment changes in maxillary and mandibular dental arch perimeters and widths as well as in mandibular incisor irregularity seemed to be independent of treatment and a result of physiologic dentoskeletal changes throughout adulthood.