American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) Practice Exam 2025 - Free Orthodontics Practice Questions and Study Guide

The treatment with a Herbst appliance is primarily known for its ability to reposition the mandible in relation to the maxilla, which can lead to changes in dental relationships, such as class II corrections. While there may be some dental changes and positional adjustments made during treatment, research has shown that there are minimal significant skeletal changes overall in the growth of the facial skeleton from using this type of appliance.

This means the effectiveness of the Herbst is predominantly seen in the dental component rather than in making substantial changes to the underlying skeletal structures. Hence, the observation that treatment with the Herbst leads to no significant skeletal changes aligns with findings in orthodontic literature, where improvements in occlusion and alignment can occur without major alterations to the skeletal anatomy.

In contrast, significant changes in dental arch width, increases in anterior facial height, and the formation of new bone at the suture sites are not typical results of Herbst treatment and have not been consistently supported by studies on its effectiveness.