HealthyStart Dentist in Rockville, MD

If you had braces or orthodontic problems as a child, you know the difficult path you have to take to get straight teeth. But, are you aware there is a way to prevent these problems in your own children? The majority of children and teenagers experience misalignment during their growth and development. However, with modern oral health treatment options, we can correct misalignment problems while your kids still have baby teeth.

Introducing the HealthyStart system. These orthodontic options for children can reduce the time your child will spend straightening crooked teeth with braces. Some children may not even need orthodontics at all.  Your HealthyStart dentist can also correct improper tongue alignment, sleep-related disorders, and mouth breathing. 

What is HealthyStart Technology?

HealthyStart is a myofunctional oral appliance worn at night. It is a groundbreaking treatment designed to correct bad habits and re-train orofacial muscles to form correctly. It can help prevent future orthodontic treatments in adulthood and straighten a child's baby teeth. It is a non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical, pain-free approach to correct oral health issues.

What are the Signs My Child May Have an Oralfacial Myofunctional Disorder?

Orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMD) are abnormal lip, jaw, or tongue positions during rest, swallowing, or speech. These disorders can be challenging to identify because children have many symptoms. They are most often caused by prolonged thumb or finger sucking and incorrect nasal breathing. It affects a wide range of related issues with:

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• Swallowing
• Speaking
• Sleeping (sleep apnea)

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To deal with these problems, children naturally resort to mouth breathing, which permanently affects the structure of their muscles and tongue placement. A common issue is lack of sleep, which leads to difficulty concentrating in school, irritability, depression, and low grades. 

Early Orthodontic Intervention 

What parent doesn't want the best for their children? Early orthodontic intervention is a way to give your child a healthier smile and a healthier life. With HealthyStart, your child will spend much less time in braces or may avoid them altogether in their teens. It saves your child the hassle of orthodontics and helps you save money in the future. 

The ideal age to start treatment is between 5-10 years old. Bad habits are easier to correct the younger a child is. It is perfect for kids with thumb-sucking habits, insomnia, and behavior problems. 

Children’s dentistry can combine early interceptive orthodontics with palliative expanders to combat problems like sleep apnea. They can open airways and straighten teeth while your child sleeps.

Visit Shady Grove Pediatric Dentistry | HealthyStart Dentist in Rockville 

We encourage you to call today to see if your child is a candidate for Healthy Start. If they are suffering from anything mentioned above, or you feel their overall health would benefit, get a professional opinion from Dr. Bana Ball, your HealthyStart dentist in Rockville. We look forward to helping you and learning more about your children. Call your Shady Grove Pediatric Dentist today!

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