What is HealthyStart®?

Does your child’s snoring sound like a freight train? Are you concerned that a recent diagnosis of ADD or ADHD may be inaccurate, or that his or her thumb sucking will cause permanent issues? Is your child troubled by bed wetting, overly tired in the morning, challenged in school or has allergies? All of these could be signs your child has Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB).

An estimated nine out of ten children suffer from one or more symptoms related to Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB). – JAOS, Bergersen / Stevens

These children experience a wide range of debilitating SDB- related health disorders, such as:

  • ADD/ADHD
  • Lower IQ
  • Chronic Allergies
  • Aggressive Behavior
  • Mouth Breathing
  • Swollen Adenoids & Tonsils
  • Daytime Drowsiness
  • Crooked Teeth
  • Restless Sleep
  • Bedwetting
  • Nightmares
  • Dark Circles Under the Eyes
  • Snoring
  • Irritability
  • Frequent Headaches
  • Arrested Growth
  • Low Grades in Math, Science, & Spelling

HealthyStart® is just as its name suggests is a start-up system to help your child’s teeth come in properly. Its use provides no discomfort, and it is a natural way to guide your child’s teeth to proper alignment. The Healthy Start System™ is a revolutionary departure from traditional orthodontics into an early, non-invasive, natural way of straightening teeth. The fundamental goal is help the face properly develop so there’s room for teeth to grow as nature intended, which will help your child achieve a picture-perfect, beautiful smile.

comprimised development

The HealthyStart® System has been specifically designed to promote the proper growth and development of the jaw and airway to optimize airflow and promote proper nasal breathing while straightening your child’s teeth. As these areas develop many of the symptoms of Sleep Disordered Breathing disappear. When kids can breathe properly, they can begin to learn, grow, and blossom into their true genetic potential … just as nature intended.

Benefits of HealthyStart®?

  • Achieving a healthy airway while preventing crooked teeth.
  • Achieve a healthy smile without braces.
  • Prevents crooked teeth.
  • Treatment is best started at an early age, as young as 2-3, when patients tend to be more compliant. However, Healthy Start is just as effective for older children from ages 8 and up. The same soft, comfy, removable device is available for preteens (8 -12) and for teens and adults (13+). No longer is there a need to wear metal braces or aligners to achieve straight teeth! The steps are similar to those for 4-7 year olds, with some variations.
  • Permanent results with minimal chance for relapse.
  • Using a removable dental appliance that is safe, natural and more hygienic than other orthopedic/orthodontic appliances.
  • Results can be achieved much faster and with less discomfort than traditional orthodontic treatments.

before and after

About Dr. Gerner

Dr. Tom Gerner has been studying and providing dental treatment for adults suffering from mild and moderate sleep apnea since 2016. Recently he became aware of a system called Healthy Start which addresses problems of facial development in children which, if left untreated, can lead to sleep apnea later in life. The possibility of solving a problem by starting early rather than just managing it later in life was so compelling that he had to learn more.

Now, with training and experience in this new area, Dr. Gerner is convinced that the HealthyStart® program can improve children’s' lives. With almost 4 million children treated by this system worldwide the effectiveness of the treatment is clear and now it's available in Plattsburgh.

Dr. Gerner knows traditional orthodontics are an effective way of straightening teeth. However, with HealthyStart® your child can achieve straight teeth in the privacy of your own home without wearing uncomfortable metal braces.

HealthyStart® sleep disordered breathing questionnaire for children

Download and print this PDF and indicate to what degree your child exhibits the symptoms.