Little Bytes Services

HealthyStart®

Many children suffer from symptoms related to sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). This disorder occurs when breathing is restricted at night, often resulting from improper jaw positioning or development. After years of inadequate breathing, your child's health can be affected.

Fortunately, at Little Bytes Pediatric Dentistry, we have a solution for your child's SDB. HealthyStart orthodontics is a non-invasive approach that could resolve this problem and prepare your child for a lifetime of easy breathing and positive oral health.

What Is HealthyStart Treatment?

HealthyStart is a custom myofunctional treatment available in Palo Alto at Little Bytes, where our pediatric dentists can use this method to help your child's teeth and jaw develop properly.

This method will straighten teeth without braces, which are often uncomfortable. Instead, removable orthodontic aligners are worn at night or according to your treatment plan. Most children adjust well to wearing their appliances nightly, which will correct poor oral habits over time.

The Problem with Sleep-Disordered Breathing

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) causes your child to have trouble breathing properly when they are asleep, resulting in snoring, excessive tiredness, and low energy throughout the day.

Much like sleep apnea in adults, SDB can impact your child's health in many ways:

Academic challenges
ADD/ADHD
Aggressive behavior
Arrested growth
Bed-wetting
Chronic allergies
Dark circles under the eyes
Frequent illness
Inability to focus
Moodiness or depression
Nightmares
Restless sleep
Swollen adenoids or tonsils
Underdeveloped jaw

Many children suffering from SDB take prescription medication to help with these symptoms, but what they could really benefit from is more sleep. Luckily, HealthyStart is a non-pharmaceutical approach to managing SDB symptoms.

How Does
HealthyStart Work?

HealthyStart is an airway-opening appliance that brings the upper and lower jaws forward. This position allows for maximum airflow, helping reduce the symptoms of SDB.

Depending on your child's age when they begin treatment, they could have the following three phases to complete.

HABIT CORRECTION PHASE

In the first phase, habit-breaking appliances are used to stop harmful habits, such as thumb-sucking.

SECOND PHASE

During the second phase, your dentist will provide appliances that help erupting teeth emerge into the correct space. These appliances also help correct jaw development and positioning.

FINAL PHASE

Your child must have at least four permanent teeth before beginning the final phase. The appliance used in this phrase helps produce the proper outcome for your child's permanent smile and prevents overcrowded teeth.

Benefits of HealthyStart for Your Child

HealthyStart is a nontraditional but innovative approach to treating orthodontic issues. It provides numerous benefits for your child, including:

Addresses SDB symptoms
Eliminates the expense of traditional braces
Helps develop a beautiful smile
Is often covered by insurance
Works while your child is sleeping or for a two-hour period while they are awake
Uses removable aligners, which are easy to keep clean
Does not involve food restrictions

With HealthyStart at Little Bytes Pediatric Dentistry, we can help your child have a beautiful, straight smile without the hassle of brackets and wires.

Why You Should Consider HealthyStart

Early orthodontic treatment can reduce how long your child may need to wear braces when they get older — or eliminate the need altogether. HealthyStart can also prevent the need for surgical procedures to correct malocclusions.

Having straight teeth from an early age provides your child with a number of benefits, including:

✓ Proper development of speech patterns
✓ Proper chewing techniques
✓ Higher self-confidence and self-esteem

Straight teeth support your child’s overall health and well-being, setting them up for a lifetime of positive effects.

Are HealthyStart Aligners Worth It?

HealthyStart orthodontic aligners are worth the investment. They work equally as well as traditional braces, clear aligners, surgery, or other orthodontic procedures that help create a healthy smile.

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