The standard Herbst appliance is well known as an orthodontic and TMJ appliance used to treat class ll cases. In recent years, the standard Herbst has been modified to treat mild to moderate sleep apnea cases. The original design used shims to adjust the amount of forward movement, however, the current design uses a one-piece telescopic mechanism that advances the mandible into a forward position.
This revised design is a simplified improvement because its one-piece design allows for easier adjustments without disengaging the hinge. Doctors no longer have to crimp shims to make incremental advancements or risk losing appliance pieces. The new design allows mandible advancements in smaller increments of 1/4 mm and a maximum forward advancement of 5 mm.
Johns Dental is a full service dental lab that has been fabricating sleep apnea and snoring appliances since the 1980’s and is trusted by dental industry practitioners. Follow Johns Dental Lab on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube for the latest industry updates.