Case Study: Female, 5 years old, blocked airway

Female 5y old

  • Severe grinding at night
  • Heavy snoring
  • Habitual mouth breather
  • Gasps for air
  • Dark circles under the eyes
  • Small for her age, failure to thrive
  • Emotional outbursts, tired
  • Restless
  • Focus issues at school

**As a parent, the above is concerning and very difficult to accept.

Clinically

  • Severe wear on anterior teeth
  • Wear on posterior teeth
  • Enlarged tonsils, grade III

**As a clinician, the above is not normal, not healthy and all the findings suggest SDB (sleep disordered breathing), an inflammatory disease of the body.

Why is this happening?

To further diagnose, we need a CBCT or a lateral CEPH.

The lateral CEPH shows the following:

  • Grade 4 adenoid tissue blocking the airway from the nose to the oral cavity
  • Narrow oropharynx (oral cavity to the body)
  • Small upper jaw (tongue not functioning properly)
  • Small lower jaw (trapped by the upper jaw)
  • The tongue does not have enough room within the housing

Goal for Treatment is ALWAYS, ALWAYS TO RESTORE NASAL BREATHING!!

Ideal Treatment by Reverse Engineering

  • Expand the maxilla, grow nasal mucosa
  • Unwrap the mandible
  • Make room for the tongue
  • Myofunctional therapy
  • Establish nasal breathing

Dr. Nishita Ondhia

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