Herbst® Appliance Hartford County, CT

When wearing the Invisalign Herbst appliance, you shouldn't experience any pain. It is common to feel soreness in the jaw while your mouth adjusts to having the appliance in place. If you're worried about the pain you'll experience, contact our team so we can go over the process in detail to decide if this procedure is right for you.

This treatment method slowly repositions the low jaw forward. While the jaw moves, these crossbite aligners allow time for the jaw to grow and find balance with the rest of the face. While your bite will change, your jaw will adapt, leaving your face the same.

It may be challenging to brush your teeth once the Herbst appliance is placed. Cleaning your appliance with your toothbrush, in conjunction with rinsing your mouth, is ideal. A Waterpik® can also aid in cleaning and removing food particles from around your appliance.

With a Herbst appliance in place, it's essential to avoid certain types of foods to prevent damage to the appliance and ensure its effectiveness. Hard foods, such as nuts, hard candies, and ice, should be avoided as they can break or dislodge the appliance. Sticky foods like caramel, gum, and chewy candy can get caught and may pull on the appliance, potentially damaging it. Additionally, it's advisable to cut down on sugary and starchy foods to prevent plaque buildup around the appliance, which could lead to tooth decay. It's also recommended to cut fruits, vegetables, and other hard foods into small, bite-sized pieces to minimize the risk of damage.

While the Herbst appliance is effective in treating jaw discrepancies, it comes with certain drawbacks, as do most treatments. Patients may experience an initial period of discomfort and adjustment, which may lead to challenges in maintaining oral hygiene and certain dietary restrictions. Additionally, it may be prone to wear and tear, necessitating occasional adjustments or repairs, and its visible nature can cause self-consciousness in some patients. Despite these issues, with proper care and management, the Herbst appliance can significantly improve jaw alignment and reduce the need for more extensive orthodontic work in the future.

The Herbst appliance has demonstrated a high success rate in correcting class II malocclusions, primarily overbite issues, where the upper jaw is too far forward relative to the lower jaw. Success is particularly notable in growing children and adolescents, as the appliance leverages growth spurts to achieve more effective and lasting changes in jaw alignment. The key factors contributing to its success include diligent wear by the patient, regular follow-ups with the orthodontist for adjustments, and proper oral hygiene to prevent complications.