Why is Sleep and Airway Assessment Important?
Sleep plays a crucial role in a child’s growth, development, and overall health. If your child is struggling with a compromised airway they may not be getting enough oxygen. Airway issues in children can lead to a host of problems and can impact various aspects of a child’s life, including:
- Dental Health: A compromised airway and poor sleep can contribute to dental problems such as teeth grinding (bruxism), malocclusion (misalignment of teeth), jaw development and increased risk of tooth decay.
- Behavioral and Cognitive Development: Airway issues that result in inadequate sleep can lead to daytime sleepiness, irritability, learning problems, difficulties concentrating, and poor academic performance. It may also contribute to behavioral issues such as hyperactivity and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
- Physical Health: Potential symptoms and consequences of untreated pediatric Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) or Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) may include:
- Slow growth—Children with SDB may not produce enough growth hormone, resulting in abnormally slow growth and development.Cardiovascular difficulties—OSA can be associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure, or other heart and lung problems.
- Obesity—SDB may cause the body to have increased resistance to insulin, and daytime fatigue can lead to decreased physical activity. These factors can contribute to obesity.
Kids World Pediatric Approach to Sleep and Airway Assessment
At Kids World Pediatric Dentistry, we take a comprehensive approach to assess your child’s sleep quality and airway function. Our process includes:
- Clinical Evaluation:
- Questions will be asked by our team to gather more information about your child’s sleep habits, snoring, daytime behavior, bed wetting and any observed breathing difficulties during sleep.
- During your child’s dental visit, Dr. Torres will conduct a thorough clinical examination to assess for signs of sleep-disordered breathing, such as mouth breathing, crowded or narrow dental arches, dental crossbites, evaluation of jaw position, high palatal vault, and enlarged tonsils. In addition, during this visit, she will also evaluate your child’s tongue range of
- Treatment: Based on the assessment findings, we will discuss personalized treatment recommendations tailored to your child’s specific needs. This may include improvement on sleep hygiene, lifestyle modifications, myofunctional therapy, orthodontic interventions, or referral to specialists for further evaluation and management.
