HERBST FITTING AND PLACEMENT

Fitting Crowns

Fitting the crowns is very easy. The proper Size is selected prior to your appointment and tried On your teeth to verify the correct fit. After the crowns are fitted, upper and lower impressions are taken and a construction bite obtained for laboratory use. The crowns are removed from you teeth, placed in the impression and the lab makes the Herbst. Very easy!

Placing the Herbest

For best results it is important that the teeth be dry for placement of the Herbst crowns. We usually ask that you take "dry-up" pills just prior to your appointment (30 minutes).

The lower portion of the Herbst is glued in first, then the upper. After the glue sets, the Herbst arms are attached and the lower jaw brought forward some.

Advancing the Herbst

Incremented advancement is the most effective method of growth control of the lower jaw. We advance the lower jaw about 3mm every 2 months and overcorrect the jaw Position by about 4mm.

Treatment Time with Herbst

The minimum length of treatment time with the Herbst is 6 months. Most treatment takes longer perhaps as long as 2 years or more in very severe cases.

After a time appropriate for the problem, the arms of the Herbst will be removed Hand the jaws allowed to "settle in". If necessary the arms H will be re-attached and Herbst treatment resumed until proper correction is achieved.

Problems with the Herbst Device

Soreness

Because your jaw has been protruded, your jaw muscles will be sore for a few days. Also you will have some difficulty eating (about a week) until you adjust to your new jaw position.

Rubbing Spots

Sometimes the screws at the corners of the mouth will cause some discomfort. Putting wax on the screws and Orabase on the sore spots will get you through this time until your cheeks toughen up.

Loose Screws

Check the screws on your appliance daily for the first week, every other day the second week and then weekly thereafter. We glue the screws in place so they will not come loose but anything can happen.

Coming Apart

We try to construct the Herbst so it will stay together throughout treatment but sometimes the arms will come apart if you open really wide or yawn. If this happens, simply open wide, realign the parts and put them back together. When the arms are apart, the Herbst is not doing its job. If you cannot get the parts back together, call so we can get you back together.

Loose Crowns

Sometimes the crowns will come loose. If this happens, call the office immediately so we can re-cement or replace the crowns.