What Is the HealthyStart System?

HEALTHYSTART IS A revolutionary interceptive orthodontics system that allows Dr. Ball to correct dental alignment problems earlier in childhood than traditional braces and help guide incoming adult teeth into their correct positions. 

Dentists use this system to counteract a number of harmful habits, such as mouth breathing and tongue thrusting, and it can even help counteract problems that might not seem connected to dental alignment, such as snoring, nightmares and restless sleep, poor school performance, ADD/ADHD, irritability, anger, depression, and headaches.

Harmful Oral Habits

Mouth breathing can cause all kinds of short-term issues for children, many of which are connected to poor sleep quality from getting insufficient oxygen by breathing through the mouth. If your child is exhibiting the following symptoms, it may be due to mouth-breathing: impaired speech, halitosis, tooth decay, irritability, lethargy, and inattention. 

In the long term, mouth breathing can cause more serious issues, including altering the child’s facial structure, increasing their risk of developing sleep apnea, and making orthodontic problems more complex to correct. 

A tongue thrust reflex is a normal and healthy habit for babies, but not in children and adults. Every time the person swallows, they push their tongue forward against their front teeth. Over time, this changes the shape of the dental arch and causes an overjet and dental crowding.

How Does the HealthyStart System Help?

HealthyStart works in three phases, each involving a specific custom appliance and lasting a number of months.

Phase 1: Habit-Corrector. This stage is designed to eliminate or improve harmful oral habits. Your child wears the habit-corrector at night. Its design is similar to a pacifier, so they will become used to wearing it quickly. After 1-5 months, it’s on to phase 2.

Phase 2: The second appliance is designed to help guide incoming adult teeth into their correct positions, correct your child’s bite, and expand their arches to make room for the incoming adult teeth. This phase will take between 2-6 months.

Phase 3: Finally, your child will wear a device that accommodates incoming adult teeth, starting when they have at least 4. This phase is crucial for ensuring that adult teeth come into their correct positions.

Could HealthyStart Help My Child?

If you’d like to learn more about the HealthyStart system and whether your child could benefit from it, give us a call at (240) 848-7074 or email us. As a HealthyStart dentist office, we’re happy to answer any questions you may have about this incredible interceptive orthodontics solution, and we’re excited to work with you and your child! To learn more about our practice, make sure to check out our business page, and don’t forget to look at the map for directions before you head our way.