Sleep Apnea in Kids: Causes and Treatments
Breathing problems during sleep, often referred to as sleep disordered breathing, can impact a child’s health and quality of life. Among these is sleep apnea, a potentially serious health concern marked by repeated breathing pauses throughout the night. At Dentistry for Children, we offer Vivos appliance therapy to address the underlying causes of sleep apnea and improve your child’s quality of sleep. You can always count on us for the highest level of care!
Understanding Sleep Apnea in Children
Does your child experience breathing pauses during sleep? Have you noticed snoring growing louder? Is your child tired and super sleepy during the day? Have you seen an increase in problematic behaviors at home or school?
If you have noticed any of these warning signs, your child may suffer from sleep apnea. The sleep disorder occurs when a child or teen’s breathing pauses repeatedly during the night due to a blocked airway. Your child may stop breathing for seconds to minutes at a time and can experience up to thirty or even more breathing interruptions each hour, adding up to hundreds of breathing pauses every night.
When the brain senses oxygen deprivation, it responds by waking your child to breathe. However, repeated breathing interruptions can result in unhealthy blood oxygen levels, often leading to long-term health impacts. Unlike adults who experience daytime sleepiness, poor sleep in kids can also lead to irritability and behavioral problems, impacting a child’s overall well-being and quality of life.
What Are the Types of Sleep Apnea in Kids and Teens?
There are different forms of sleep apnea in children: obstructive and central.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): OSA is the most common form of sleep apnea in children. It usually occurs when there is tissue blocking the airway during sleep. Most children with mild to moderate OSA wake up choking or gasping for air but fall right back to sleep. Most do not remember ever waking up.
Central Sleep Apnea (CSA): CSA is much less common and usually occurs when the brain’s respiratory center fails to send the appropriate signals to the respiratory muscles responsible for breathing. Sometimes, the brain sends the needed signals, but the muscles do not respond as they should, causing numerous breathing pauses through the night.
What Are the Warning Signs of Sleep Apnea in Children?
Most adults suffer from fatigue and health concerns as a result of sleep apnea. When it comes to children, many sleep apnea sufferers are mistakenly believed to have behavioral or learning disorders when, in reality, the root of the problem lies in the lack of restful, rejuvenating sleep.
Here are some symptoms of sleep apnea in children during sleep:
- Loud snoring or heavy breathing
- Repeated pauses in breathing
- Snorting, gasping, or choking
- Mouth breathing and teeth grinding
- Restless sleep and unusual sleep positions
- Sleep terrors and nighttime sweating
- Bedwetting and sleepwalking
Here are some symptoms of sleep apnea in children during the day:
- Daytime fatigue and sleepiness
- Chronic congestion
- Behavioral problems and hyperactivity
- Feeling grumpy or irritable
- Trouble concentrating
- Poor school performance
- Learning problems
- Poor weight gain
These symptoms do not always mean a child has sleep apnea. However, we recommend an evaluation to rule out sleep disordered breathing.
What Are the Causes of Sleep Apnea in Children?
Sleep apnea risk factors in children include the following:
- Childhood obesity
- Enlarged tonsils and adenoids
- A small upper or lower jaw
- Improper growth or alignment of the lower jaw
- Certain shapes of the roof of the mouth
- A severe overbite
- Abnormalities of the skull or face
- A large tongue
- Poor muscle tone
- Down syndrome or cerebral palsy
- Nasal allergies
- Neuromuscular disease
- Low birth weight
- A family history of sleep apnea
What Are the Complications of Untreated Sleep Apnea in Children?
Untreated sleep apnea can impact growth and development and leave a child at an increased risk of illness and mental concerns. Many children with sleep disorders are diagnosed with learning disabilities, ADHD, or other behavioral disorders because, unlike adults who may be irritable or lethargic, sleep apnea in kids can lead to bursts of energy, hyperactivity, and poor behavior.
Children with untreated sleep apnea are at risk of health problems into adulthood. These include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and more. Diagnosing and treating sleep apnea is critical for your child’s long-term health and well-being.
Diagnosing Sleep Apnea in Children
Sleep apnea is typically diagnosed through a sleep study. That involves placing sensors on different parts of a child’s body to collect data on snoring, breathing patterns, oxygen levels, brain wave activity, heart rate, and muscle activity. Sleep studies usually take place in hospital settings.
Traditional Sleep Apnea Treatments
Sleep apnea treatments may differ depending on the underlying cause of the condition. It may involve positive pressure airway therapy or the use of oral appliances during sleep. These traditional treatments often provide relief but do not address the root causes of sleep disordered breathing, meaning treatment is likely needed for life.
Treating the Root Cause of Sleep Apnea with Vivos Appliance Therapy
Vivos appliance therapy is an FDA-cleared treatment that addresses the underlying causes of sleep disordered breathing, providing permanent relief. It involves wearing a custom-fitted oral device, like a mouthguard or retainer, during sleep to keep the airway open. It also helps correct a child’s oral posture, ensuring the tongue has ample room to rest and stay clear of the airway.
The Vivos device provides long-term relief by gently guiding the growth of the hard palate and lower jaw. As your child’s jaw moves forward and the palate widens, the upper airway has more space, allowing for more comfortable breathing during sleep. Vivos appliance therapy takes about 12-24 months to deliver the desired results, usually eliminating the need for invasive treatments down the road.
Why Choose Vivos Appliance Therapy for Sleep Disordered Breathing?
Vivos appliance therapy offers numerous benefits, including the following:
- Non-surgical Solution: Vivos appliance therapy offers a non-surgical alternative to traditional sleep apnea treatments, making it an attractive option for children and their families.
- Addresses Underlying Causes: Unlike conventional treatments that usually focus on symptom management, Vivos therapy addresses the structural causes of sleep apnea, providing a more permanent solution.
- Improves Airway Patency: Expanding the dental arches and adjusting the jaw’s position can gradually increase the size of the airway, reducing the likelihood of obstruction during sleep.
- Enhances Quality of Sleep: By addressing the underlying causes of sleep apnea symptoms, Vivos appliance therapy improves a child’s quality of sleep, which is critical for physical growth, cognitive development, emotional regulation, and overall health.
- Long-term Benefits: Early intervention with Vivos appliance therapy can offer long-term benefits, reducing the risk of future health issues associated with untreated sleep apnea, such as cardiovascular problems, metabolic disorders, and developmental delays.
- Customized Treatment: Vivos appliances are customized for each child, ensuring a perfect, comfortable fit and more effective treatment outcomes.
- Improves Oral Health: By addressing dental and orthodontic issues related to the airway, Vivos appliance therapy can also help improve a child’s oral health and alignment.
Vivos Appliance Therapy Near Me in Highland, IN
If your child is diagnosed with sleep apnea, contact Dentistry for Children to schedule a consultation. Dr. Halum may recommend Vivos appliance therapy to treat the underlying causes of your child’s concerns for long-lasting relief. We invite you to call our office at 219-924-5437 to schedule an appointment or use our online form to request one today!