The Healthy Start System Provides an Effective Treatment for the Root Cause

The Healthy Start System Provides an Effective Treatment for the Root Cause of Sleep Disordered Breathing and Straightening Teeth Without Braces
Sleep Disordered Breathing in children is a much more critical and common problem than what has previously been thought. SDB can manifest itself in a variety of symptoms that can be easily overlooked, misdiagnosed, and most unfortunately left untreated. The Healthy Start system educates the dental community to identify the symptoms, understand the underlying root cause, and create a treatment plan that both cures the breathing disorders and corrects the orthodontic condition.
Early intervention is critical when addressing sleep issues. The optimal age for a Healthy Start patient is as soon as the problem is identified. Any age from 2-12 might be best for any individual patient – the first step in identifying SDB symptoms is with the Healthy Start Sleep Questionnaire. The Healthy Start requires a parent to assign a frequency number to Sleep Disordered Breathing symptoms apparent in their child:

1. Day or nighttime mouth breathing
2. Snoring
3. Talking in sleep
4. Tooth grinding
5. Difficulty listening / often interrupting
6. Allergic symptoms including eczema
7. Fidgeting with hands
8. Waking up at night
9. Restless sleep
10. ADHD
11. Excessive sweating while asleep
12. Bed wetting
13. Hyperactivity
14. Excessive daytime sleepiness
15. Nightmares / night terrors
16. Lack of focusing
17. Difficulty with school subjects of math, science, and spelling
18. Falling asleep during the day
19. Headaches in the morning
20. Speech problems

A recent study of 501 Healthy Start patients from the ages of 2 to 19 found that nine out of ten children display at least one symptom of Sleep Disorder Breathing. Previous research found SDB occurring in only 1% to 3% of children from the ages of 5 to 13 yeas of age, however, the findings of this study provides evidence that SDB is much more common affecting 90% of children and the SDB symptoms can be seen in children as young as 2 years of age. (Stevens, 2016)
Conclusions of this recent study found:

1. Mouth breathing and snoring are commonly associated with more SDB symptoms than the other symptoms studied.
2. The four most commonly occurring symptoms are: Mouth breathing at night, snoring, talks in sleep, and teeth grinding.
3. 90% of the sample had one or more symptoms commonly associated with SDB.
4. 60% of the sample had four or more symptoms.
5. Between 4 and 12 years of age, 92.6% of symptoms did not self correct while 30% worsened with age.
6. The dentist is well positioned to be able to utilize appliances that can modify the common symptoms.

The implications of this study are essential in finding a way to improve the health of children today. Observations of these SDB symptoms can be seen as early as two years of age.  Treating early not only allows the Healthy Start system to take advantage of growth and development and promote proper oral habits but to also ensure a healthier life for children (Stevens, 2016).
Training
Professionals interested in gaining a greater understanding of SDB and how the Healthy Start System addresses both the sleep and orthodontic conditions can participate in a three-day course. The first two days of this course provide the necessary information for both Dr. and staff to identify, evaluate, and understand the treatment protocols. The third day is a hands-on day with patients and parents. Please visit www.TheHealthyStart.com for upcoming dates and more information.
Treatment
The Healthy Start System is a non-invasive, non pharmaceutical, natural form of treatment that uses a series of specially designed appliances to promote proper breathing habits. The Healthy Start addresses mouth breathing, open-bite, crossbite, narrow palate, speech difficulties, sucking and swallowing problems. The Healthy Start System also treats orthodontic problems such as crowding, overbite, overjet, gummy smiles, and class lll corrections. The Healthy Start system uses the natural forces of eruption to guide incoming teeth so natural fiber bundles develop and anchor these newly erupted permanent teeth into a perfectly created occlusion.
The sequence for this case is typical: a sleep questionnaire filled out by parent rating their child’s symptoms on a scale indicated the degree of risk. Finding an open-bite condition usually represents a tongue thrust, improper swallow, and mouth breathing. The Healthy Start system was introduced with the first of a three-appliances series given to address the habit and breathing issues for a period of three months. The second appliance was issued when the first tooth was lost and was used only at night to guide the incoming dentition and ensure proper habits. The third and final appliance was given as the laterals began to erupt and continues to guide the incoming teeth into the correct position. The natural eruptive forces will expand the arches and allow more space for the tongue to be forward and out of the airway.
FAQ
Q: What is the ideal age to begin Healthy Start treatment?
A: The earlier the better. Ideally every child should have a comprehensive exam by a Healthy Start Provider by the age of two (2). Healthy Start dentists and their staff have received special training to ensure that the overall health and wellbeing of every child is carefully evaluated and taken into consideration when formulating a treatment plan.
Q: What are the benefits of the Healthy Start system?
A: The Healthy Start addresses health issues in children as well as straightening teeth without braces. Nine out of ten children present with at least one symptom of Sleep Disorder Breathing. Healthy Start looks at the root cause of these symptoms: a compromised airway, a narrow arch which compromises the proper tongue position, and mouth breathing. The Healthy Start addresses the root issues while straightening the teeth.
Q: How long will the Healthy Start System for kids prevention technique take when done at this young age?
A: Since treatment in young patients occurs as the adult teeth erupt, the process will need to last until all permanent teeth have come in. This is not as daunting as it may seem since the appliances may be worn passively at night or for brief periods during the day. Our devices work to ensure the jaw and teeth fit and work properly together, therefore allowing the achieved results to be stable for life. Typically, the child is completely finished by 12 years of age.
Q: Can you predict at age 5 what a child’s teeth are going to look like at 12 years of age?
A: Yes. Actually, many aspects of malocclusions (overbite, jaw relationship, cross-bite, crowding, and overjet) are predictable by 2 years of age. Left untreated, at best they stay the same but in over 75% of individuals, the problems become more severe while the child suffers from breathing problems every night from age 5 to 12 – years of development they’ll never get back.