For patients who may need to correct their bite, one treatment option we offer is the Herbst appliance. The Herbst is a growth modification appliance designed to realign the bite when the upper jaw is too forward compared to the lower jaw. In the past, bite correction was treated with headgear, but today the Herbst appliance is the leading treatment for overbite correction.
This device attaches to the back molars of your mouth and consists of a palate expander with lower bars for stability. The expander widens your upper jaw allowing more room for your teeth while the other pieces work together to correct a severe overjet or overbite.
The Herbst appliance can be applied in conjunction with braces, and treatment generally lasts 9-12 months. This treatment often works well with children as they are in the greatest period of growth, but has proven effective in adult patients as well.
