HealthyStart™ Waco
Proactive Treatment for Better Breathing
The dentists at Heart of Texas Smiles General & Cosmetic Dentistry pay very close attention to your child’s oral development. Monitoring their teeth, gums, and bite all play an essential role in developing treatment plans that prepare them for a positive oral health future. However, a problem that does not get enough attention is the risk of poor breathing caused by orthodontic issues, especially in younger patients. With the HealthyStart™ system here in Waco, we can address these issues with a permanent solution and prevent many health disorders from appearing later. Contact the office to schedule an appointment with Dr. Lassetter, Dr. Rivacoba, or Dr. Dhaon for your child!
Why Choose Heart of Texas Smiles General & Cosmetic Dentistry for HealthyStart™?
- Only Dental Practice in Waco to Offer HealthyStart™
- Dentists with Advanced Training & Experience to Help Young Patients
- We Welcome Your PPO Dental Insurance
How Orthodontic Issues Result in Sleep Disorders
According to the Journal of the American Orthodontic Society, an estimated nine out of ten children suffer from one or more symptoms related to Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB). Dr. Earl O. Bergersen, the inventor of the HealthyStart™ system, notes that by addressing orthodontic issues at a young age, including crowded teeth, misalignment, and malocclusions, dentists can prevent SDB.
For example, the average size of an airway is about 7mm for a 7-year-old. If they exhibit symptoms of disordered breathing, such as breathing through their mouth, it can cause the airway to close as much as 6mm, even if the mouth is open just half an inch! With only 1mm of airway space for oxygen to travel, the risk of disrupted sleep and long-term consequences are significantly higher.
Does Your Child Have Sleep Symptoms?
In many cases, SDB goes undiagnosed or completely unnoticed. If you catch any of the following symptoms in your child, you’ll want to get in touch with our office. They include:
- Mouth-breathing
- Snoring
- Teeth grinding or clenching
- ADD/ADHD symptoms
- Bedwetting
- Restless sleep
- Irritability, anger, mood swings, or depression
- Chronic headaches
- Chronic allergies, eczema, or asthma
- Swollen tonsils or adenoids
How HealthyStart™ Works
The HealthyStart™ system is a form of oral appliance therapy designed to shift teeth into a healthier position, all without the use of brackets and wires typically found with traditional orthodontics. These devices work to promote proper growth and development of the jaw and airway to optimize airflow and promote proper nasal breathing. Furthermore, HealthyStart’s oral appliances are:
- FDA Cleared
- BPA, Silicone, and Latex-Free
- ISO Certified
- Classified as a Health Canada Class II Medical-Grade Device
Our office can evaluate your child and indicate if there is a breathing and sleeping issue. Best of all, when treatment begins early, the perfect smiles that the HealthyStart™ Appliance System creates are less likely to relapse! Additionally, HealthyStart™ is a non-surgical, non-pharmaceutical, pain-free, and non-invasive therapy. It is soft, comfortable, and worn at night (or as directed) to assist parents who struggle with children affected by SDB.
The Benefits of the HealthyStart™ System
Research has shown that SDB-induced oxygen deprivation is a major contributing factor to childhood health disorders, including:
- ADD/ADHD
- Lower IQ
- Aggressive Behavior
- Daytime Drowsiness
- Crooked Teeth
- Arrested Growth
- Chronic Headaches
- Dark Circles Under the Eyes
Furthermore, HealthyStart™ can treat many poor habits and issues commonly diagnosed in children. These include:
- Malocclusions (i.e. overbite, overjet, crossbites)
- Thumb or Finger-Sucking
- Tongue Thrusting
- Improper Swallowing
- Poor oral health
- Poor dentition and dental arch expansion
Parent Testimonials
This young patient has been a very compliant patient with the daytime and nighttime wear of the Healthy Start appliances! She has been wearing the appliances since June 2019 and the daytime wear is only about 2 hours a day (which varies for each patient). She is already seeing rotation of her anterior teeth and the permanent teeth are moving to their correct positions!
This young patient visited us due to both sleep and dental concerns. The patient has been in the nighttime phase of treatment since April 2019 and daytime wear since the beginning of May 2019. His sleep has improved with a reduction in his snoring. Patient says the nighttime appliance is easy to wear.
We are thrilled to share some real patient results with you! This young patient came to us due to sleep issues, snoring/grinding, and daytime fatigue. We were able to get her started with Healthy Start treatment late Spring 2019, and already the results have been life-changing for the patient and her parents! She now sleeps all through the night in her own bed, she gets up earlier and is always happy. She told us that she feels rested and "just better!" She is no longer snoring or grinding.
This young patient has been in active treatment since April of 2019 which means he sleeps in the appliance at night and wears the appliance for 1 to 3 hours a day. The patient is very compliant and finds the appliances to be very comfortable to sleep in. He is sleeping better than ever with the appliance!
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