Did you know that children can be affected by sleep apnea, just like adults? If your child snores, seems restless at night, sleeps with their mouth open, or experiences daytime behavioral problems, they may be experiencing obstructive sleep apnea.
At Hidden Valley Orthodontics, we offer pediatric sleep apnea screening as part of our new patient orthodontic exam. Dr. Christy Fortney is an expert in the North County community at identifying potential signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea in children. She provides insights and recommendations to improve the quality of life in your developing child, and it is her passion in life to make sure all children sleep and breathe with ease.
Schedule a consultation to learn more about an evaluation for obstructive sleep apnea screening for children, and how it can benefit your child’s overall health and well-being.
Some people experience sleep apnea, a condition where their breathing becomes blocked or interrupted (sometimes completely) for short times during sleep. This cycle can happen many times throughout the night, even though the affected person might not fully wake up or realize that their sleep is being interrupted.
While adults with sleep apnea often feel fatigued during the day, children might show different or more subtle signs. At night, they may snore loudly, sleep with their mouth open, or toss and turn restlessly. During the day, they might be cranky and irritable, have trouble focusing in school, or exhibit behavioral problems (commonly diagnosed as ADD or ADHD).
These issues happen because sleep apnea disrupts a child’s sleep quality. Even short pauses in breathing wake their brain slightly, preventing them from getting the deep, restful sleep they need. This lack of quality sleep can affect their mood, behavior, and growth. It may even raise their risk of future health problems.
Early diagnosis and treatment of breathing problems can help your child tremendously. While braces or Invisalign® aligners do not directly treat sleep apnea, an orthodontist like Dr. Fortney can provide you with testing, referrals, and valuable insight so your child can get the treatment they need.
At Hidden Valley Orthodontics, Dr. Fortney uses a proactive approach to screen for sleep apnea in children. Here’s what you can expect during the screening process:
Dr. Fortney will carefully examine your child’s face and airway. This may involve looking at their facial features, evaluating facial growth proportions, any tongue ties, and checking proper tooth development. It is very common for children to have a narrow palate, which contributes to arch crowding and breathing concerns.
Dr. Fortney will take an 3D X-ray of your child’s skull, neck and airway. This low radiation film helps Dr. Fortney see if enlarged tonsils or adenoids might be contributing to an obstruction problem. The nasal cavity and turbinates are evaluated during this step as well.
Dr. Fortney will also ask you about your child’s sleep habits and any other symptoms you might have noticed. This information helps her get a complete picture of your child’s overall health and dental development.
These physicians may recommend a sleep study to truly evaluate the quality of sleep your child is actually getting. A sleep study is a painless test that involves your child staying overnight at a sleep center where their brain waves, oxygen levels, breathing, and movements are monitored as they sleep. The study results can help Dr. Fortney and related physicians recommend the best course of treatment for your child.
The HVO Kids Club is designed for our younger patients before they’re ready for braces or Invisalign. Monitoring the growth and development of their teeth and jaws during this crucial stage of development will allow Dr. Fortney to identify potential issues like sleep apnea early on, greatly reducing the risk of future dental health and skeletal growth problems.
The HVO Kids Club also allows Dr. Fortney and her team to build a relationship with your child, ensuring a smooth and comfortable experience if treatment is necessary in the future!
While behaviors like snoring may seem harmless, they can have a serious impact on your child’s health if linked to pediatric sleep apnea. If left untreated, sleep apnea can affect your child’s growth, daytime focus, and school behavior, and it can increase their risk of future health problems.
Dr. Fortney will take a proactive approach to your child’s well-being by conducting a comprehensive evaluation that includes a sleep apnea screening. As a seasoned expert in sleep medicine, she is known for teaching local dentists and hygienists the importance of identifying and referring patients with sleep apnea to sleep experts.
Don’t wait to address your child’s sleep concerns. Contact Hidden Valley Orthodontics today to learn how we can help your child breathe easier and sleep more soundly!
