Healthy Start in Oak Lawn, IL

What Is the Healthy Start System?

Healthy Start is a series of soft, removable oral appliances that guide the natural development of a child’s teeth and airway. The system is designed to:

• Promote proper jaw growth and tooth alignment
• Improve nasal breathing and reduce mouth breathing
• Address sleep-disordered breathing symptoms early
• Minimize or eliminate the need for braces later on

The appliances are worn primarily at night and are customized for each stage of your child’s development—from the earliest signs of airway or bite issues to the final alignment of permanent teeth.

Signs Your Child May Benefit from Healthy Start

The Healthy Start system is designed for children showing early signs of:

• Mouth breathing
• Snoring or restless sleep
• Bedwetting after age 5
• Crowded or crooked baby teeth
• Thumb sucking or prolonged pacifier use
• Speech delays or lisps
• Daytime fatigue or poor focus
• Hyperactivity or behavioral concerns

Many of these symptoms are related to underdeveloped airways or improper jaw positioning—issues that traditional orthodontics alone don’t address. Early evaluation allows us to intervene during key growth phases to support better long-term outcomes.

How Healthy Start Works

The treatment process involves three phases, each tailored to your child’s age and developmental stage:

1. Habit-Corrector Phase: The first appliance helps eliminate harmful oral habits (like mouth breathing or tongue thrusting) and encourages proper muscle function.
2. Second Phase: Designed for children with mixed dentition, this stage focuses on aligning the erupting permanent teeth while continuing to support airway development.
3. Final Phase: This appliance completes tooth alignment and jaw development, often eliminating the need for future braces or orthodontic intervention.

Each phase is monitored by Dr. Smith with regular check-ins to ensure progress, comfort, and appliance fit. Because the appliances are removable, compliance and parental support are key to successful outcomes.

Benefits of Early Airway-Focused Treatment

Unlike traditional orthodontics, the Healthy Start system goes beyond straightening teeth—it focuses on root causes like poor oral habits and underdeveloped jaws. Benefits may include:

• Improved sleep quality and duration
• Reduction in ADHD-like symptoms linked to poor sleep
• Proper alignment of incoming permanent teeth
• Healthier facial and jaw development
• Lower risk of speech problems and future orthodontic relapse

This holistic approach aligns with our broader focus on preventive, family-centered care. As part of our pediatric dentistry services, we help parents understand how jaw development, sleep, and oral habits are all connected.

Healthy Start vs. Traditional Orthodontics

Traditional braces correct misalignment after it occurs, often starting around ages 12–14. Healthy Start aims to prevent that misalignment by guiding growth during earlier stages—when the bones are still forming and habits are more easily changed.

Because the appliances are worn at night and do not involve wires or brackets, they’re more comfortable and less disruptive for children.

Is My Child a Candidate for Healthy Start?

The best time to begin Healthy Start is between ages 3 and 8, when facial and jaw growth is most responsive. However, every child is different. During a consultation, Dr. Smith will:

• Evaluate oral development and bite
• Ask questions about sleep and behavior patterns
• Examine the airway and facial structure
• Discuss your child’s current habits and concerns

If signs of sleep-disordered breathing or orthodontic risk factors are present, we’ll outline a treatment plan that’s easy to understand and tailored to your child’s needs.