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Healthy Start – Waco, TX

GIVE YOUR CHILD’S FUTURE A HEALTHYSTART™!

Healthy Start Smile

The dentists at Heart of Texas Smiles 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, 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 or Dr. Rivacoba for your child!

How Orthodontic Issues Result in Sleep Disorders

healthy start

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 mouth-breathing, 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?

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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

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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 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.

 

See the Difference:

The Benefits of the HealthyStart System

Research has shown that SDB-induced oxygen deprivation is a major contributing factor to the 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