Is your child snoring? Do they have pauses in breathing or mouth breath when they sleep? These are signs you might be dealing with sleep apnea, a condition that affects around 30 million Americans, young and old. Long-term, sleep apnea can lead to various health issues, from fatigue and headaches to behavioral problems and difficulty focusing.
Now, you may think that sleep apnea is something you should see your family doctor about, and while this is definitely true, a visit with your orthodontist is also a wise choice. You may not have realized it, but orthodontic treatment can help alleviate sleep apnea and its symptoms.
Your orthodontists at Innovative Orthodontic Centers want to discuss how orthodontics can help you or your child sleep better and have a better quality of life with airway treatment.
Understanding Sleep Apnea in Kids & Adults
Let’s clarify that sleep apnea comes in two main types. The one we’ll focus on here that can be improved by airway treatment is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). It’s the most common type. What does OSA look like? As the name suggests, it’s when there’s a physical blockage in the airway — where muscles in the back of the throat intermittently relax during sleep, causing breathing to stop and start repeatedly.
Snoring, teeth grinding, restlessness, and mouth breathing are telltale signs of sleep apnea. OSA can result in fragmented sleep and decreased blood oxygen levels to the brain, which can affect behavior, mood, and performance during the day for both adults and children.
What Causes Sleep Apnea?
OSA is caused by any number of things that narrow your airway:
- Large tonsils
- Enlarged turbinates or adenoids in kids
- Changes in hormone levels
- Obesity
- Genetics
- Structural issues in the jaw and face
What Doctor Treats Sleep Apnea?
As we mentioned earlier, your doctor is the first medical professional you’d see if you suspect sleep apnea. Once you’ve been diagnosed, your doctor might refer you to a sleep specialist or an orthodontist for airway treatment.
How Orthodontists Can Help with Sleep Apnea
Orthodontists like Dr. Ibrahim and Dr. Gin are experts in the complex relationships between teeth, jaws, and airways. This makes them well-suited to address the structural causes of sleep apnea. Correcting sleep apnea with orthodontics can improve airflow and reduce its symptoms.
How Does Airway Orthodontics Work?
Airway orthodontics focuses on opening up the airway to lessen obstructions. This can involve maxillary expansion in Phase 1 orthodontics or using braces or Invisalign®. As with any orthodontic correction, early intervention is preferred since kids’ oral structures are still developing and, therefore, are more easily responsive. Phase 1 treatment can help guide the development of the jaw and teeth, addressing sleep apnea in kids before it interferes with daily life.
Phase 1 Treatment for Kids’ Sleep Apnea
Phase 1 treatment typically occurs when the child is around 7-9 years old. During this time, orthodontists can guide the development of the jaw and teeth, ensuring the airway is more open to help kids breathe and sleep better.
One common type of Phase 1 airway treatment is maxillary expansion. This airway treatment uses a traditional maxillary expander to widen the upper dental arch and open up the palate, which is essentially the floor of the nose. At our cutting-edge Naperville practice, you may also have the option of the Invisalign palatal expander.
How Can Braces or Invisalign Fix Sleep Apnea?
For some cases, especially adults, braces or Invisalign can be used for airway treatment to realign the jaw and teeth. Well-aligned teeth and oral structures create a more open palate and forward position for the tongue so it doesn’t obstruct the airway when relaxed.
Innovative Orthodontic Centers offers self-ligating clear ceramic braces and metal braces, and we’ll work with you to choose the best option for your case and best results. If you’re a candidate for Invisalign, you’ll be glad to know we offer Invisalign for adults, Invisalign Teen, and the innovative Invisalign First for young kids in Phase 1 treatment.
Airway Orthodontics with Your Naperville Orthodontists
While medical treatments from sleep specialists have a place, orthodontists trained in airway orthodontics can also offer significant relief from sleep apnea, especially for patients with structural mouth and jaw issues.
If you or your child is experiencing sleep apnea symptoms, contact your expert Naperville and Shorewood orthodontists at Innovative Orthodontic Centers to explore your airway treatment options.
