Find out how a palate expansion could improve airflow and childhood sleep apnea.
If your child is dealing with behavioral issues you may be concerned that you could have ADHD, but you may not realize that their issues could be the result of a sleep breathing disorder such as children’s sleep apnea. Fortunately, our San Antonio, TX, dentist Dr. Christian Pham can detect these issues in your child and provide early treatment. Learn more at Crownridge Dental and Orthodontics.
What are the signs of a sleep breathing disorder?
It isn’t always easy to tell whether or not your child has a sleep breathing disorder, but it’s important to be able to recognize some of the warning signs such as,
- Chronic or loud snoring
- Pauses in breathing or shallow breathing
- Disruptive sleep (tossing and turning)
- Mouth breathing
- Bedwetting
- Night terrors
If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s worth it to turn to our San Antonio, TX, dentist for an evaluation. After all, just like with adults, children’s sleep apnea needs to be properly managed to improve their sleep quality, help them feel and function more optimally, and improve and protect their health.
What is a palatal expansion?
A palatal expansion is a type of orthodontic device that is used to make the palate wider to provide more space for teeth to come in properly. In some cases, this can improve crooked smiles without having to remove teeth; however, a palatal expansion can do more than just improve your child’s smile. It can also improve their sleep and any sleep-related breathing disorders they may be dealing with.
How can orthodontic treatment improve my child’s sleep?
When the palate is narrow this impacts the nasal passages, reducing the amount of air that can flow through the nose. This, in turn, can lead children to snore and mouth breathing. Over time, this can also increase your child’s risk for developing obstructive sleep apnea. These breathing problems could also be the reason your child is displaying behavioral problems. By fitting your child with a palate expander we can both improve current breathing issues and also provide early intervention to prevent these problems in children.
If you are concerned about your child’s sleep apnea or would like to discuss treatment options with our San Antonio, TX, children’s dentist Dr. Pham, then call Crownridge Dental & Orthodontics at (210) 538-7500 to schedule an evaluation.