[Soft-tissue profile changes through therapy with the Herbst hinge appliance].

The posttreatment tissue profile changes that can be observed after treatment with the Herbst therapy were investigated in a class II malocclusion mixed dentition group. Profile photographs of two groups of 18 patients were compared. One group was treated with the Herbst appliance, the other served as an untreated control. The treated cases were retained by means of an activator after the active treatment period. After this retention period, new profile photographs were taken and compared to the controls. All treated patients displayed a significant improvement of the soft tissue profile at the end of the active treatment period. After retention a relapse tendency could be observed. Due to the large range of observed treatment effects, no correlation between soft tissue profile and skeletal changes could be found.