Beschreibung:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title>
<jats:p>The effect of continuous bite jumping on the dentofacial complex was investigated in ten consecutive Class II, Division 1 malocclusion cases treated with the Herbst appliance. All patients were growing boys with a skeletal Class II jaw base relationship. Ten boys of the same age and with the same dentofacial morphology served as a control group.</jats:p>
<jats:p>Dental casts and profile roentgenograms were analysed before treatment, after six months of treatment when the appliance was removed and six and twelve months post-treatment.</jats:p>
<jats:p>All Class II malocclusions were treated successfully by continuous bite jumping. Twelve months post-treatment normal sagittal dental arch relationships were found in 7 cases, while partial relapse was seen in 3 cases, resulting from unstable cuspal interdigitations after treatment.</jats:p>
<jats:p>Sagittal mandibular growth was accelerated by continuous bite jumping. During treatment mandibular length and the SNB angle increased significantly more than in the control group. No adverse changes in sagittal mandibular growth were seen during the 12 months after treatment.</jats:p>
<jats:p>The influence of bite jumping on maxillary growth appeared to be reversible. Maxillary prognathism (SNA angle) was significantly reduced during treatment but during the follow-up period maxillary growth caught up and the SNA angle returned almost to pretreatment values.</jats:p>