Headgear Ask The Dentist Questions about Bite Treatment Orthodontic Issues FAQ Dental Health Library

Dentist Finder

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
WashingtonDC
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Dental Health Directory Library

FAQ: Headgear

Question:
At age 14, female, is it possible to use the HERBST headgear to treat a class III underbite without resorting to jaw surgery?

I have consulted two oral surgeons and one orthodontist and they all say only jaw surgery will work. Is jaw surgery really the only way to fix the class III underbite? ...Visitor from CA

Answer:
A Class III bite can be resolved in many ways.

Surgery is one option, and may be the only option given other factors...such as your facial profile. It may not be an issue of what CAN be done, and more of an issue of what SHOULD be done.

Illustration: You CAN get from the third floor to the ground level by jumping out a window, but you SHOULD take the stairs. Why? Sometimes what CAN be done is not what is best.

If three separate specialists have advised you towards surgery, you are probably best served in that fashion.

Regarding the Herbst/ Headgear. These appliances treat Class II bites, and NOT Class III bites.

Editorial Staff

Return to Head Gear FAQ

Ask a Question

Return to FAQ Index

You also have the option of using Google search technology to conduct a specific search within our databases to find more specific information. Use key words or short phrases:

[Home] [Ask The Dentist] [FAQ's] [Polls] [Consultants] [Directories] [Employment] [Articles]
Contact the Editor
Dental Health Directory
Ask The Dentist
Featured in

Dental Pros and Cons

Videos
Pictures Photos
New Products
Bad Teeth Gums Gallery