Kids with sleep apnea might have trouble paying attention in school because poor sleep affects their focus and learning.
Your dentist in Fulshear will assess your child's sleep apnea through a variety of screening questions listed below.
Your dentist will create a personalized treatment plan, which may involve lifestyle changes or CPAP therapy.
Stay in touch with your dentist for regular follow-ups and adjustments to ensure the best outcomes for your child's sleep health.
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Did you know that some kids with sleep apnea may sleepwalk or talk in their sleep?
Dysfunction in breathing and oral muscles leads to incorrect growth of the jaws and leaves the individual susceptible to conditions like malocclusion and sleep breathing disorders. As the dental arches become narrower and room for the tongue is reduced, breathing disorders worsen.
Thus, nose-breathing (as opposed to mouth-breathing) leads to optimal function. During this, the tongue is positioned in the roof of the mouth, the lips are sealed, the teeth are slightly apart, and the muscles are relaxed. Proper myofunctional habits at night lead to better sleep and reduce the likelihood of sleep disorders.
Typically, the first line of treatment is surgical removal of adenoids, tonsils, or both. However, some children may not get a long-term resolution of their symptoms via surgery. Treatment for kids then progresses to expansion or an appliance. A sleep appliance or habit corrector such as Myobrace is generally used for children with sleep breathing disorders.
Conventional orthodontics is recommended after the usage of functional appliances and/or expanders to further align the teeth and perfect occlusion. However, if breathing and myofunctional disorders are overlooked when using conventional orthodontics (failing to treat the symptoms and jaw development first), issues such as relapse may arise in the future.
If the patient has a narrow palate and lacks space for the adult teeth to erupt, an expander is often recommended. Expanders stimulate the jaws to grow or expand, creating space for all of the teeth to fit in the arch. Thus, fixed upper and lower expanders are used in growing patients to relieve crowding in the arch, improve the airway, create more space for the tongue, and correct posterior crossbites.
Myobrace is an oral appliance that corrects orthodontic, breathing, and myofunctional issues. It helps expand the arches of the mouth, as it puts light pressure on the teeth and jaws. It has a soft and flexible outer shell and a firmer internal core. The appliance also trains the lips and tongue to function properly.
Treatment involves using a series of removable oral appliances that are worn for 1-2 hours daily and throughout the night. We evaluate the following parameters to determine if children are candidates for Myobrace: dental alignment, arch form, occlusion, facial development, breathing and posture, tongue position, swallowing, lips and cheeks, habits, and TMJ. Following this, we will measure your child’s teeth to determine which appliance size they will begin wearing. The Myobrace appliances are ordered from the lab and arrive at the office within 2 weeks. At the delivery appointment, we will discuss any instructions with both the patient and the parent.
• Habit correction
• Arch development
• Dental alignment
• Retention
In most cases, Myobrace can lead to straight teeth and better function of the oral cavity. It also provides optimal facial development along with better breathing, particularly during sleep. However, we cannot guarantee the patient will not need braces or Invisalign in the future. The appliance works best for children between the ages of 5-10 years old.
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