Articles

Can you do something about my child’s snoring?

It is a common misconception that snoring is the same as apnea. Snoring is an indicator of a partially obstructed airway and it is only a sign that the patient may be suffering from sleep apnea.

Children that suffer from sleep apnea present growth and development problems as well. A lot of them have under developed upper jaw, narrow upper arches, and under developed lower jaw. Very often the parents report a history of allergies, tonsillar and adenoids hypertrophy.

Some of the signs and symptoms observed in children are: Hyperactivity, poor concentration, hyponasal voice, obesity, frequent upper respiratory infections, earaches,
headaches and nightmares, just to mention few.

Early detection of structural abnormalities in the developing child, gives us the opportunity to intervene with functional therapy. After a thorough orthopedic evaluation, the dentist may decide to use orthopedic appliances to direct, redirect and control the child’s facial growth. Orthodontic appliances may help arch development, mandibular positioning and closing anterior open bites. This type of treatment is what we call phase one orthodontics, ultimately we are improving the intraoral volume needed to accommodate the tongue and to prevent its compaction into the hypopharynx.

If you suspect that your child is suffering of sleep apnea, consult with an ENT or sleep specialist. A proper medical work-up by a physician can detect physiologic changes. After all the proper testing is performed and a cause is determined, your child may be a candidate for early orthodontic/orthopedic intervention. Consult with your child’s dentist or orthodontic and learn more how your child’s condition can improve with the proper treatment.