Healthy Start System™

HEALTHY START SERVICES IN GRAND BLANC

Prevent Rather Than Correct

At Werschky, Lewis & Slatton Family Dentistry, we proudly offer The Healthy Start System™ to patients throughout Genesee County.

Before getting to a treatment modality, it is important to address the central issue with children and sleep disordered breathing; the airway. An open airway allows for the easy passage of air and the child breaths normally while they sleep. However, if there is an obstruction, such as the tongue or soft tissue, the airway is compromised leading to sleep disordered breathing. When a child’s airway is narrow, underdeveloped or constricted the child will struggle with nasal breathing which results in mouth breathing. Mouth breathing leads to abnormal tongue positioning, arch development, and erupting tooth position.

Early detection of this condition is paramount. In addition to mouth breathing, signs to look for are: unusual sleep positions, bedwetting, teeth grinding, waking up frequently, poor tooth alignment, snoring, nightmares, mood swings, venous pooling (dark circles under the eyes), aggressive behavior, chronic allergies, fidgeting, hyperactivity, and poor performance at school.

Nine out of ten children suffer from one or more of these symptoms related to Sleep Disordered Breathing. Here is where the child’s dentist or Pediatrician can diagnose and address the issues. There are multiple treatment options including Myofunctional appliances (trainers), allergy treatment, and habit correcting exercises.

The Healthy Start system falls into the category of Myofunctional appliance training, but it has two components. Phase 1 employs a uniquely designed oral appliance that the child sleeps in. This will train the tongue to be in a normal position, which promotes nasal breathing and naturally widens the arches and develops the jaw as nature intended. The second phase (if required) address the alignment of the teeth. The Healthy Start system is a non-invasive alternative to traditional orthodontics that treats children with crooked teeth early and naturally aligns their teeth as they erupt rather than “repositioning” them after eruption.

It is important to stress that this system is based on patient compliance and parental encouragement and support. The key to this system for a successful outcome is early diagnosis and onset of treatment. This in turn leads to “Prevent versus Correct.”

Call (810) 671-5616 to speak with one of our certified Healthy Start dentists. We are one of only a few practices in the state trained to offer this innovative new system!

How Can I Tell If My Child Has Sleep-Disordered Breathing?

Does it ever sound like a freight train is running through your child’s room at night? Loud snoring is one indicator that suggests your child may have Sleep-Disordered Breathing. Gasping and snorting sounds while your child sleeps may catch you off guard or even make you momentarily worry. These sounds stem from your child moving from a deeper sleep to a lighter sleep and struggling to breathe.

What Are The Benefits Of The Healthy Start System?

Our skilled dentists and compassionate staff work hard to bring our patients the most cutting- edge dental technology with the most benefits. Patients choose our Healthy Start services so they can experience the following benefits:

Establish Nasal Breathing and Eliminate Sleep Disordered Breathing.
Prevent crooked teeth instead of correcting crooked teeth
Achieve permanent results
Experience no discomfort
Treatment works naturally with your facial growth and development
Achieve a great smile WITHOUT braces, or surgery

Your Beautiful Smile Is Just the Beginning

Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) is an all-inclusive term for breathing difficulties, ranging from mild snoring to severe airway obstruction during sleep. When your child’s breathing is disrupted, their body recognizes the disruption like it’s choking. This causes the heart rate to slow down, increases blood pressure, arouses the brain, and ultimately disrupts sleep. Although there have traditionally been very few answers to treating this issue, Werschky, Lewis & Slatton Family Dentistry is now able to use the Healthy Start System to assist patients who suffer from SDB.

How Does The Healthy Start System Work?

The Healthy Start System guides your child’s teeth into their proper position, expanding and fully developing their mouth and jaw. The Healthy Start System works with the natural forces of tooth eruption. The soft, comfortable, removable devices gently guide the erupting teeth into their ideal positions. In addition, Healthy Start aids in the correct growth and alignment of the lower jaw, expanding the arches to ensure incoming permanent teeth have enough room to erupt correctly, and develop proper oral habits.

The Healthy Start System uses the following series of appliances, depending on the age of your child:

Habit-Corrector: The habit-corrector eliminates or improves current oral habits that can damage your child’s dental health. Your child wears the habit-corrector at night while sleeping. With a design similar to that of a pacifier, your child will get used to wearing the device in their mouth every night. This step lasts about 2-5 months.
Second Phase: Your child will get an appliance customized and sized for them to wear every night. It aids the incoming teeth into their proper places, corrects jaw relations, and expands your child’s arches for their incoming adult teeth. Your child will wear this device for 2-6 months.
Final Phase: The final treatment begins with a device that accommodates incoming adult teeth. It begins when your child has at least 4 permanent teeth. This phase is extremely important because your child’s adult teeth are forming and the gum tissue fibers are starting to attach to the teeth in the mouth. Healthy Start works perfectly to ensure the teeth erupt into proper alignment. The patient normally has active daytime wear coupled with passive night time use of the appliance in this phase.

Ask Us About The Healthy Start System Today

Do you have more questions about the Healthy Start services we offer at Werschky, Lewis & Slatton Family Dentistry? Then give us a call to get the answers you are looking for. Our friendly staff will gladly take the time to discuss your situation and address all of your concerns.

Our team of experienced dentists only offer time-tested and proven procedures to our patients. Researchers and developers have carefully designed the Healthy Start System to adapt to each patient’s individual needs. Drs. Werschky & Lewis’s ability to determine the optimal Healthy Start System for your child make us the practice you want to correct Sleep Disordered Breathing symptoms.

Open-Bite

Open-bite corrected with Healthy Start System

Overbite and Overjet

Overbite and overjet corrected with Healthy Start System for Preteens five years post-treatment.

Our dedicated team of dental professionals strive to provide all of our patients with healthy, beautiful, and lasting smiles. Call (810) 671-5616 today to schedule an examination and consultation. Don’t hesitate, give your child the gift of a Healthy Start today!