Growing up with crooked teeth can be tough for a child. It can lead to teasing and bullying. And getting braces will help in the long run, but over the short term it can be as bad or worse.
That’s why we’re excited about our new orthodontic option, which allows us to potentially avoid the entire problem. The Healthy Start System is designed to straighten your child’s teeth without braces. And as important, Healthy Start is able to eliminate sleep disordered breathing problems that can lead to many health and behavioral issues in children.
Problems Related to Sleep Disordered Breathing
Your jaw is the primary bony support for the soft tissues of the airway. When teeth or jaws are underdeveloped or don’t fit together properly, it can lead to many health and behavioral problems. Some of the most common complaints parents have that are related to breathing problems include:
- Bedwetting
- ADD/ADHD
- Moodiness, depression, and aggressive behavior
- Difficulties at school
- Poor growth
- Nightmares
These problems can occur if your child isn’t getting enough air at night. Reduced or even interrupted airflow can keep your child from sleeping properly, and if they’re not sleeping, their body isn’t able to get the regenerative benefits of sleep. This means their brains aren’t rested, so they have memory problems, as well as behavioral problems. This causes trouble at school and at home.
But resolving developmental issues with the teeth and jaw can help ensure proper breathing at night. This helps them sleep, and being more rested they will be more their bright and charming selves.
How Healthy Start Works
Healthy Start takes advantage of the idea that if treatment begins early it can utilize less aggressive methods. By beginning as soon as possible–perhaps as young as age four–it starts working while the jaw and teeth are developing. It encourages the proper growth of the jaw, creating sufficient room for teeth. It also encourages good swallowing form that puts the tongue in the proper position to balance forces with the cheeks. This ensures a wide, round arch of teeth.
The Healthy Start system doesn’t use braces. It uses clear plastic aligners that are mostly worn at night. These aligners are also worn for a short time during the day while practicing specific exercises. The combination helps your child’s jaw develop while they learn proper chewing, swallowing, and breathing habits.
The sooner you begin treatment, the easier it will be for you and your child. To learn whether your child can benefit from this new approach to orthodontics, please call (614) 848-5001 today for an appointment with Columbus, OH dentist Dr. Mike Firouzian.
