Herbst Appliance
Those with a retrusive (weak) lower jaw often have head gear (children) or jaw surgery (adults) recommended by orthodontists to correct this problem. Left untreated, misaligned jaw joints can cause joint pain, headaches, and excessive wearing of the teeth. We have an alternative to head gear and surgery which is the revolutionary Herbst appliance. In children, the Herbst appliance uses the child's growth to advance the lower jaw and improve the facial profile. In some adults, the Herbst can be a substitute for surgery ultimately saving $10,000 – $20,000 in surgery costs.
O'Grady Orthodontics developed the framework for the Herbst appliance which moves the lower jaw forward. Children with retrusive lower jaws and adults who are borderline surgery cases are ideal for this type of innovative appliance. It was often thought by orthodontists that the lower jaw could not be advanced in a non-surgical way. However, recent orthodontic literature supports that this is possible. Since 1985, we have been especially successful in treating children with the Herbst appliance giving them more functional bites, better facial structure, and a beautiful smile.
