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The first step in diminishing symptoms of sleep disorder breathing is making the correct diagnosis. While treatment with sleep and other appliances is often very successful in the pediatric population, intervention at the pediatric dental office is not the first step. Very often other specialty consultation and diagnostic tests are required including evaluation of a child’s potential allergies, a consultation with an Ear-Nose-and-Throat physician, and a possible sleep study.
One of the options that we have for treating sleep disordered breathing and other similar conditions is a HealthystartⓇ system. Dr. Ezekowitz is one of only a handful of providers in Massachusetts trained to offer this innovative new system!
In addition to the benefits of reducing symptoms of sleep disordered breathing, our goal is to help position the lower jaw to move in a way that opens the child’s airway so the tongue isn’t rolling back in the mouth and blocking the airway. Ideally, the mouth will grow into the appliance which will in turn help the jaw and teeth grow into a better position. The result of this proper positioning includes less of a need for orthodontics as your child gets older, as well as less of a chance of developing sleep apnea as an adult.
HealthystartⓇ is an early interceptive approach designed to reduce symptoms of sleep Disordered Breathing while simultaneously aligning a child’s teeth properly. This approach is a revolutionary departure from traditional orthodontics because that treats children early, is non-invasive, and is a natural way of straightening teeth. The key idea behind Healthystart is that we can achieve the above goals by guiding the teeth into the proper positions as they erupt - as opposed to once the teeth are erupted into the mouth.
Healthy StartⓇ will develop a custom-made plan for your child based upon their specific needs. It works by guiding your child’s teeth into the proper position as they erupt into the mouth. Working with Dr. Ezekowitz, we develop a custom-made plan for your child based upon their specific needs and diagnosis.
The advantage of taking this approach is that since the teeth will be positioned correctly from the start, there is less of a chance that your child will need orthodontics (braces) or that the teeth will relapse into their pre-braces position (which is why people with braces need retainers at the end of treatment).
One of the other benefits of the HealthystartⓇ appliances is that while reducing Sleep Disordered Breathing, the devices help direct the growth of the lower jaw, ensuring that your child has adequate bone for their incoming permanent (adult) teeth.
HealthystartⓇ is one of many approaches to treatment. And regardless of the treatment modality we use to help your child, it’s important to understand that the optimal time to start interventional treatment for sleep disordered breathing and similar disorders is when the child’s first permanent tooth erupts (usually around 6 years of age). Studies have shown that when treatment is started early. we have more predictable treatment results when treatment is started early.
Call us or use our contact form to schedule a consultation with Dr. Ezekowitz.
