San Francisco and Marin CA
Pediatric sleep apnea is more widespread than you might realize. Research conducted at Yale indicates that the prevalence of this sleep breathing disorder may be as high as 10-20% among children who habitually snore. Sleep apnea makes it nearly impossible to get the proper amount of rest, and can have additional complications for children. That is why Glen Park Dental offers oral appliance therapy to treat pediatric sleep apnea. Read on to learn more about this method of treatment.
Sleep apnea can affect anyone, of any age
While usually associated with older, overweight adults, even young children can contract obstructive sleep apnea. If your child suffers from sleep apnea, they experience breathing disruption during the night. These may be complete interruptions of breathing. Eventually, oxygen levels decrease and the brain, believing it is choking to death, signals the body to resume normal breathing. Each of these events disrupts the sleep cycle. This means, in a case of severe and untreated sleep apnea, your child is waking up repeatedly each night to resume breathing.
Loud snoring is the major warning sign
As a parent, you should be aware of the symptoms of sleep apnea in children. Loud snoring on a regular basis is the most common symptom of sleep apnea.
Other symptoms include:
- Making coughing, gasping or choking sounds while they sleep
- Night sweats
- Sleepwalking
- Talking in their sleep
- Night terrors
- Wetting the bed
During the day, your child may exhibit chronic fatigue or have difficulty focusing in school. Children with sleep apnea also display symptoms of a hyperactivity disorder, such as ADD or ADHD. If your child is being treated for a behavioral disorder but not seeing any significant signs of improvement, even with therapy and medication, then sleep apnea could be the root cause of the problem – and, as such, the problem will not be resolved until your child receives treatment for their sleep apnea.
What causes pediatric sleep apnea?
Usually, sleep apnea in children occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat slide down and obstruct the airway. These airway obstructions also may occur due to growth or alignment issues with the jaws, or a poor oral resting posture that does not leave enough room in the mouth to accommodate the tongue.
Why choose oral appliance therapy?
CPAP is considered the go-to treatment method for sleep apnea for many. Standing for continuous positive airway pressure, CPAP entails wearing a mask that delivers a constant stream of high pressure air to keep the airway open throughout the night. Managing the CPAP and maintaining the machine can be overwhelming for many children, however.
By contrast, oral appliance therapy is non-invasive and easy to manage. We provide you with a mouthpiece that is custom-made to fit snugly and securely in your mouth. This device is made of plastic and comfortable when worn. It guides the lower jaw forward, encouraging the ideal resting oral posture with the lips closed, teeth closed and tongue resting gently against the roof of the mouth.
The benefits of oral appliance therapy
When used properly, oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea helps your child have higher quality sleep, which improves both their physical health and emotional well-being. Your child also can anticipate better focus and performance in school.
Oral appliance therapy for pediatric sleep apnea in San Francisco and Marin, California
If your child has been diagnosed with sleep apnea, Glen Park Dental can provide relief through oral appliance therapy. To find out more about this method of treatment, call (415) 585-1500 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.
