Airway Dentistry …. Did you know? By: Dr. Nishita Ondhia

Airway Dentistry …. Did you know?

1. Dentists are able and should screen for With respect to Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB), dentists are able and should screen for symptoms, they are are not medical doctors and cannot diagnose.
2. Three main components of SDB screening are history taking, questionnaires and the clinical exam.
3. Mouth breathing, grinding, snoring, nighttime bedwetting and hyperactivity/focus issues are red flags in screening for SDB.
4. Thumb sucking and oral habits also are red flags for SDB.
5. Forward head posture in children can often be compensation for trying to keep the airway open.
6. Primary snoring in children is diagnosed when it occurs at least 3 nights per week.
7. Snoring is the primary nighttime symptom most characteristic of paediatric SDB.
8. Cognitive and behavioural issues seen in children is the primary daytime symptom of sleep apnea.
9. Reduced growth hormone secretion during fragmented sleep in children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) results in growth delay.
10. Not all children with OSA or SDB are tired and have a high BMI; the majority of children are lean and hyperactive – they are not growing and they are not thriving.

By Dr. Nishita Ondhia