Having consistent dental visits can help detect sleep and breathing issues in kids. Kids need to see pediatric dentists because they specialize in treating babies, children, and teens. They’re also experienced in making visits fun for kids so they don’t grow up with a fear of going to the dentist. That includes putting them at ease when they’re in pain and performing procedures like placing fillings.
Mouth Breathing
Children whose breathing is restricted by narrowed oral tissues like the frenum, a deviated septum or enlarged tonsils/adenoids are often referred for sleep studies because they cannot breathe well through their noses at night. This mouth breathing is also a sign of restless sleep. Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea is difficult to detect in kids, especially because pulse oximetry can miss it in up to 40% of the population. Sleep and breathing treatment for children Los Angeles CA, aims to prevent and reverse suboptimal craniofacial development, not just treat disease once it occurs. When kids breathe through their mouths, the palate grows, causing a high palate that can enlarge into a palatal vault over time. This can lead to malocclusions, facial differences, and a hunched-over posture that negatively impacts posture and learning. These problems are easier to correct when they are detected early, which is why it’s so important that parents take their children for regular dental exams.
Sleep Disordered Breathing
Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea is among the most common causes of poor-quality sleep in children. It prevents a full, refreshing night of sleep and can impact health, development, and behavior. Loud snoring, poor quality of sleep, and bedwetting are all symptoms that can be associated with pediatric obstructive sleep apnea. This is because underlying conditions like enlarged tonsils and adenoids can lead to blockages of the upper airway. In addition, some neuromuscular diseases and autoimmune disorders like myasthenia gravis can affect the stability of the upper airway. Obesity can also contribute to obstructed breathing during sleep. Dentists should document a patient’s upper airway anatomy and screen for symptoms of SDB during routine oral exams. They can use a questionnaire or a validated tool to identify red flags and then collaborate with physicians to diagnose sleep apnea. This often involves reviewing an overnight polysomnogram or diagnostic imaging like cone-beam CT.
Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea, characterized by repeated pauses in breathing, is a disorder that can cause serious health problems for children. If untreated, pediatric sleep apnea can lead to daytime fatigue and irritability, impede cognitive functioning, and contribute to obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and other medical conditions. Pediatric dentists and orthodontists are uniquely positioned to discover sleep-related breathing disorders. They act as “sentinel” practitioners to recognize a child’s OSA symptoms for referral to an otolaryngologist for evaluation and therapy. A common underlying cause of sleep apnea in children is enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which can narrow a child’s airway.
Snoring
Snoring is one of the first signs that a child might have sleep-disordered breathing. It is caused by a narrowing airway that causes vibrations and turbulence as air passes through it. This causes a reduction in blood oxygen levels. Children with this condition often have restless sleep characterized by frequent tossing and turning. Pediatric dentists have four years of dental school and another two to three years of specialized training to care for infants, children, teenagers and special needs patients. They are experts in oral health and can help prevent or treat problems like cavities, tooth decay, gum disease, and infections. They can also evaluate and treat children with skeletal abnormalities such as maxillary growth alteration, crossbite, dental crowding and excessive overjet. These children may suffer from snoring, thoracic or abdominal pain and gastrointestinal distress. Oral appliance therapy is a proven effective treatment for these children. It is an easy, non-invasive approach that improves a child’s quality of life by improving overall health and reducing the risk of sleep-disordered breathing.