Sleep Apnea – Children and OSA
Main article: Breathing Easier
Despite articles in the “Journal of Paediatrics” and the sleep literature, “we’re just starting to scratch the surface when it comes to children and OSA,” says Dennis Bailey, DDS, FAGD, and AGD member in Colorado who specializes in the treatment of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and the use of intraoral appliances to manage snoring and sleep apnea. Sleep problems often occur in children because of congenital issues, but Dr. Bailey believes that children who are sleep-deprived need to be evaluated by both general dentists and paediatric dentists.
“No child should snore, in my opinion,” says Ronald Perkins, DDS, MS, a Dallas orthodontist who focuses on managing OSA with intraoral devices. “If they do, they should be evaluated by an ENT.” Yosh Jefferson, DMD, MAGD, a general dentist who has limited his practice to orthodontics, TMD therapy, and major oral rehabilitation cases, says that morning crankiness or behaviour problems at school could signal a warning for OSA; long, narrow faces may indicate sleep deprivation; and a bluish hue under the eyes can be a sign of allergies or oxygen deprivation. According to Dr. Jefferson, children who have sleep disturbances are often smaller because they lack vital growth hormone production during lesser stages or rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Finally, Dr. Bailey notes that sleep deprivation can cause attention and behaviour problems and increase the risk of obesity.
See also: Sleep Apnea – Studio Dentaire
