The Herbst Appliance
In some patients the lower jaw is small and needs assistance to match with the upper jaw. A Herbst (lower jaw advancing) appliance may be the additional help needed. Elastics sometimes are not enough to make the needed correction to the tooth alignment. A Herbst appliance is typically worn 8 months.
![An illustration showing a Herbst appliance and the difference (blue line) between the upper and lower teeth (incisors). This appliance is designed to move the lower jaw forward.](http://www.forbesorthodontics.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/The-Herbst-Appliance-300x200.jpg)
ABOVE: An illustration showing a Herbst appliance and the difference (blue line) between the upper and lower teeth (incisors). This appliance is designed to move the lower jaw forward.
![This illustration shows the correction of the bite and position of the lower teeth using the Herbst appliance. Note that the incisors are aligned.](http://www.forbesorthodontics.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/The-Herbst-Appliance-2-300x200.jpg)
ABOVE: An illustration showing the correction of the bite and position of the lower teeth using the Herbst appliance. Note that the incisors are aligned.
![An illustration of patient with a smaller lower jaw that would benefit from a Herbst appliance. The blue line is a reference as to where the lower jaw should be located.](http://www.forbesorthodontics.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/The-Herbst-Appliance-3-300x200.jpg)
ABOVE: An illustration of patient with a smaller lower jaw that would benefit from a Herbst appliance. The blue line is a reference as to where the lower jaw should be located.
![An illustration of an ideal facial profile. Notice that the lips and chin line up with blue line that drop like a plumb bob under the nose. As the lower jaw moves forward it has an added benefit of increasing the airway which may improve sleep quality.](http://www.forbesorthodontics.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/The-Herbst-Appliance-4-300x200.jpg)
ABOVE: An illustration of an ideal facial profile. Notice that the lips and chin line up with blue line that drop like a plumb bob under the nose. As the lower jaw moves forward it has an added benefit of increasing the airway which may improve sleep quality.
![An illustration of a face with excellent growth of the facial bones. Note that lips and chin are aligned. Illustration depicting the skull in a patient with excellent growth of the facial bones and alignment of the teeth.](http://www.forbesorthodontics.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/The-Herbst-Appliance-5-300x200.jpg)
ABOVE: An illustration of a face with excellent growth of the facial bones. Note that lips and chin are aligned. Illustration depicting the skull in a patient with excellent growth of the facial bones and alignment of the teeth.