At Musso Family Dentistry, we participate in the HealthyStartc System, an all-natural, non-pharmaceutical, non-surgical treatment option.
What does the HealthyStart System do?
STRAIGHTENS TEETH, WITH NO BRACES
Our proprietary advanced orthodontic/orthopedic HealthyStart appliance is BPA-, silicone- and latex-free, as well as FDA cleared and American made. The HealthyStart treatment is safe, pain free, non-invasive and effective.
ADDRESSES THE ROOT CAUSE OF SLEEP-DISORDERED BREATHING
Statistics show over 40 Million children can be affected by sleep disorders and nine out of 10 children are suffering from one or more symptoms of sleep-related breathing symptoms. HealthyStart evaluates and treats the underlying root cause. This system is not merely a bandage, but (if started early enough) a permanent fix.
DON’T WAIT. EARLY TREATMENT IS CRITICAL
When children are young, their bodies are able to adjust and mold easily, particularly in their mouth and their bone structure. Crowded teeth may force the tongue forward against their teeth, narrowing their dental arch and constricting the airway.
Our dentists and team proud to provide the HealthyStart System in Garland, Texas, and the surrounding areas of Rockwall, Dallas, Lakewood, Rowlett, Richardson, Sachse, Wylie, Plano, Mesquite and Highland Park, Texas. We invite you to call us at 972-840-8477 for more information and to schedule your child’s consultation with Dr. Mike Musso and Dr. Mark Musso and Dr. John Bounds.
Does your child exhibit any of the symptoms linked to sleep-disordered breathing?
Symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing include:
Is your child a candidate for HealthyStart?
There are many things about your child’s health that are important to know but that we often do not get to see while they are at our office. There are signs to look for that you may not have known were connected to your child’s teeth or health. By looking for and tracking these signs and symptoms, we can have a complete picture of your child’s overall health. Find our assessment HERE.
You don’t have to spend a lot of time with this assessment tool; just observe their behavior at different times during the day. You want to see their most natural behaviors, so try not to let your child know that you are watching.
Check off what you see. If you are not sure, check it anyway. Make comments if you would like!
Trust a system that really works — listen to some real life testimonials.
Only in the last 20 years has research established the connection between certain common childhood health issues and a single likely root: sleep-disorderd breathing (SDB).
The symptoms associated with SDB can vary from one child to the next, but even mild SDB (mouth breathing, crowded teeth, snoring) can point to serious underlying health issues and the need for treatment.
- Pediatric sleep disorders impact a child’s behavioral, cognitive and physical development, with long-term consequences (Bonuck, Parikh, & Bassila, 2006; Montgomery & Dunne, 2007).
- Children with SDB are 40 to 100 percent more likely to exhibit behavioral and emotional problems, including hyperactivity, anxiety, depression, social issues with peers, and conduct problems, including aggressiveness (Bonuck, 2012).
- Children with crossbites (misaligned upper and lower teeth) are 3.3 times more likely to suffer from SDB, while children with convex facial profiles (i.e., receding chins) are 2.6 times more likely (Finland Study 2013, published in European Journal of Pediatrics).
The research is clear — SDB is the underlying condition that often gives rise to many childhood health issues.
Children with wide, forward dental arches who breathe through their nose sleep better, and children who sleep better perform better in school, behave better and experience fewer health issues.
Unfortunately, childhood sleep disorders are becoming far more prevalent among our youth, and far too many parents and healthcare providers are unaware of the dire consequences.
Bedwetting and your child’s dental development. How are they connected?
Bedwetting can be caused by a compromised airway, which can lead to sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Over just the past 20 years, compelling research from around the world has forged important links between SDB and certain childhood health issues that plague as many as nine out of 10 children.
The Importance of Your Child’s Airway 
The central issue for many children suffering from the effects of SDB is a compromised airway. When a child’s airway is narrow, underdeveloped or constricted in any way, the child will struggle to get enough oxygen at night and may resort to mouth breathing. Bringing the upper and lower jaws forward while making them wider can help open up the airway of a growing child.
Dangers of Mouth Breathing 
Mouth breathing is different from nasal breathing and often leads to further compromises in the airway. Mouth breathing is often cited as a contributing factor in a compromised airway and in patients who require orthodontic treatment. It can also prevent the proper function of the tongue and other orofacial muscles children need to speak, swallow, chew and function. Mouth breathing can also cause the delicate tissues of the tonsils and adenoids to swell and become enlarged, which can further restrict the airway and thus perpetuate the cycle of needing to mouth breathe.
“We believe elimination of oral breathing, i.e., restoration of nasal breathing during wake and sleep, may be the only valid “finish line” in pediatric sleep disordered breathing.” C. Guilleminault, S. Sullivan, 2014 – Stanford University
The Dental Connection
Many young children with SDB have dental arches that are underdeveloped, narrow and positioned too far back. A normal human profile should have the lips and chin positioned well in front of the eyes with a strong jawline. Unfortunately, in most cases, such growth and development does not happen on its own.
In our modern world of limited breastfeeding and soft, processed foods, far too many of our children are simply not developing fully in their lower facial areas. If allowed to persist during their formative early years, this condition prevents proper growth and development of a child’s airway.
Early Treatment Is Critical 
If these abnormal conditions are left untreated in children, by the time they are fully grown, there is little that can be done to correct them.
All too often, teeth become overly crowded and extractions are prescribed, followed by years of braces. Eventually, many of these children will grow into adults with SDB and may eventually require CPAP machines to obtain the oxygen they need at night — all because their airways were never allowed to fully develop.
By expanding the entire anatomy of the upper and lower jaws, the airway can expand and develop to its full potential. If treatment intervention occurs during a child’s critical growing years, many of the symptoms associated with SDB greatly diminish or simply disappear.
“Our 11-year-old son wet the bed 3-4 nights a week. We started treatment in Healthy Start mainly to avoid braces. After just one week, the bedwetting stopped completely. After 8 or 9 months, his teeth were perfectly straight. Amazing!” – Karen H.
Conventional Treatment Options
Before now, treatment options have been limited and ineffective, mainly because they address symptoms rather than the potential root cause.
Prescription drugs, surgery, clinical therapy, academic tutors, sleep aids and years in metal braces have been the most commonly prescribed “solutions.” Yet none of these conventional treatments can promote or develop a child’s airway and help them get the oxygen and sleep they need to thrive.
A Better Way to Help Your Child
The HealthyStart System involves a series of uniquely designed oral appliances that children can wear for just a few hours each day and/or during the night while they sleep to promote nasal breathing and discourage dental breathing as their teeth and jaws develop. The end result of this treatment should be a healthy, happy child with a beautiful smile and an airway wide and open for a lifetime of healthy breathing.
In the late 1960s, Dr. Earl O. Bergersen, an orthodontist from Chicago, developed a novel way of straightening teeth using comfortable oral appliances.
Since that time, his breakthrough has proven very effective in creating big, beautiful smiles in over 3,000,000 cases around the world. Today’s modern versions of those appliances comprises what is known as the HealthyStart System.
HealthyStart is about far more than straight teeth. The most important feature of the HealthyStart System is that it can help develop and widen a child’s airway, allowing many children the opportunity to get the oxygen and deep sleep their growing bodies require.
“My son Justin suffered from several conditions that no one had answers for. He couldn’t sleep, behaved badly, had difficulty at school, and so much more. Perfect Start has given him a completely new lease on life. He sleeps soundly. He’s off his medications. He’s doing much better in school – academically and socially. I now have 4 of my 5 kids in Perfect Start and it has totally changed our lives. I can’t thank you enough!” – Sheri O.
We encourage you to contact Musso Family Dentistry today at 972-840-8477 for more information about the HealthyStart System, and to schedule an appointment for your child with one of our caring dentists.