I am at TUFTS, Doing Pediatric dental sleep medicine. Isn’t a dentist’s job to drill and fill teeth? So What lead me here
In the last decade, I chose the path of prevention. My journey began with search to prevent crooked teeth and need for teeth removal and braces (clip). Through the process I learned crooked teeth which appeared to be a esthetic concern had deeper health effects.
Children with narrow upper jaw ( high arched palate) have predisposed risk to develop SDB ( sleep disordered breathing) . SDB has the following symptoms
Increased day time sleepiness Morning headaches Lack of concentration Fatigue Waking up tired Attention deficits Irritability Poor performance in school Increase in blood pressure
Night time symptoms
Age inappropriate bed wetting Frequent awakening (to empty bladder too)
Snoring Mouth breathing Bruxism ( night time teeth grinding)
Restless sleep Abnormal position while sleeping Frequent change in position Recent onset parasomnia ( sleep tremors, nightmares, confused arousals, sleep walking)
The above increases the risk to develop obstructive sleep apnea in children. The condition in which the breathing stops during sleep. Having a wider forward growing face helps in prevention risk of SDB and OSA.
How to identify and prevent early?
It can be identified and prevented as soon as the child is born.
When risk identified early the disease can be prevented with simple lifestyle changes.
Speak to your airway focused preventive Pediatric dentist today to ensure a healthy future to your child
Below is pic of a child with receding jaw corrected non invasive with orofacial myofunctional therapy ( a 4 year follow up)