If you’re a parent, you want your children to get a good night sleep every night, so they feel well during the day. However if your child has sleep apnea, your child might be very tired and cranky despite sticking to her regular sleep schedule. If your child has mild Indianapolis pediatric sleep apnea, an expert at The Center for Pediatric Sleep Apnea Orthodontics might be able to help.
Sleep apnea is a very serious sleep disorder in which there are pauses in breathing while sleeping that can last from second to minutes. Usually, normal breathing begins again with a snort or choking sound. Some signs that your child may have Indianapolis pediatric sleep apnea include: snoring, long pauses in breathing, feeling tired and hyperactivity during the day. Unfortunately, some children with sleep apnea are misdiagnosed with ADHD because one of the potential symptoms of sleep apnea in children is hyperactivity. It also causes them to feel exhausted. Since breathing pauses interrupt the normal sleep cycle, sleep quality is poor, and your child will feel tired throughout the day as a result. The golden standard of treatment for adults with moderate to severe cases is the CPAP machine. Although it’s a highly effective method, it is not easily tolerated by many patients. The initial treatment for children is usually different. It’s common for the pediatrician to recommend the removal of her tonsils and adenoids to resolve obstructive sleep apnea. However, if they are removed and it doesn’t resolve the problem, the CPAP machine may be recommended. If your child has been diagnosed with mild sleep apnea, you’re very fortunate because you have another option. Your child could see sleep apnea expert who specializes in treating sleep apnea. Some dentists can create custom-made dental appliances that correct obstructive sleep apnea. It’s a mouthpiece that your child will wear throughout the night as she sleeps. The appliance prevents the air obstruction and should improve the condition.
Call our Indianapolis, IN, dental office to make an appointment with a dentist who may be able to help you find out more about this topic, and improve your oral health.