Sleep Apnea Treatment – Inver Grove Heights, MN
Improve Your Child’s Quality of Rest
Have you noticed that your little one seems excessively tired throughout the day? Are they having trouble concentrating at school? Do they also happen to snore loudly or often wake up in the middle of the night? If so, this could be an indication of sleep apnea, which is something our team at Inver Grove Heights can help address! We offer custom oral appliances as well as lip/tongue-tie treatments to help make their smiles comfortable while also ensuring they get the quality rest they deserve. Read on to learn more about sleep apnea treatment or reach out to our office to schedule a consultation!
Why Choose Mighty Molars Pediatric Dental for Sleep Apnea Treatment?
- Professional & Caring Dental Team
- Offers Oral Appliance Therapy & Lip/Tongue-Ties
- Can Refer Patients Out for Additional Treatment Options
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a disorder in which the airways are prevented from allowing someone to breathe properly during rest. In many cases, a person struggling with this problem may experience coughing or gasping for air at night when trying to sleep. This issue can be due to an obstruction to the airway or even a neurological condition that prevents adequate breathing.
Signs of Sleep Apnea in Kids
There are various indications that your little one may be struggling with sleep apnea. Some of the common signs of this problem in children include:
- Loud snoring
- Chronic fatigue or tiredness
- Morning headaches
- Dry mouth or sore throat in the morning
- Moodiness or irritability
- Trouble concentrating
- Difficulty with memorizing
The Dangers of Untreated Sleep Apnea
While your child's snoring doesn’t seem like that big of a deal, this is the least of the problems that could occur from sleep apnea. Without proper treatment, this condition can increase the risk of more serious medical issues, including diabetes and high blood pressure. To protect your little one from developing costly problems from sleep apnea, you’ll want to seek a diagnosis so that you can get them the necessary treatment and keep certain health conditions at bay.
Sleep Apnea Treatment Options
One of the common ways to address sleep apnea is to use a CPAP machine, which includes wearing a mask and using a device that helps gently force air through the airways during rest. Our team, however, can offer alternative treatment with oral appliance therapy, allowing your child to get better rest simply by having them wear a custom-made mouthguard that adjusts the lower jaw to open up the airway. Of course, we can also perform a frenectomy if a lip/tongue-tie is also responsible for difficulty in breathing. If necessary, our team can even refer you to myofunctional therapy or orthodontics—whichever method can help improve your child’s situation so that they can rest easier.
Sleep Apnea (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) FAQs
Why Should My Child See a Dentist for Sleep Apnea Treatment?
This is a fair question – after all, most people don’t think of sleep solutions when they envision a dentist’s office!
The most common type of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea, occurs when oral tissue or misalignment makes it more difficult for air to travel to the lungs. As an expert on mouth anatomy, professionals like Dr. Strumpf are well-qualified to assess potential airway obstructions and recommend treatment.
Can a Pediatric Dentist Diagnose Sleep Apnea?
Technically, no. A pediatric dentist can help identify potential symptoms of sleep apnea and can administer treatment, but only a qualified sleep doctor can provide an official diagnosis. This is typically done through a sleep test. Depending on the doctor, the test may be performed in-office or at home.
Either way, your child’s breathing, heart rate, and other biomarkers will be monitored and recorded. This helps professionals determine how severe a case of sleep apnea is and what types of treatments might work best. A sleep test is not only necessary for receiving treatment, but also extremely helpful for effective treatment planning!
How Can My Child Travel with Their Sleep Apnea Oral Appliance?
Oral appliances are very easy to travel with. After all, they have to be small enough to fit in your child’s mouth! You or your child should have no problem packing it away in a backpack, suitcase, or even a pocket. Just remember to take the case and any cleaning supplies so you or your child can keep it well-maintained on your trip.
How Soon After Starting Sleep Apnea Treatment Will My Child Notice Improvement?
Many children see positive results almost the same night they wear their oral appliance for the first time! As they get more and more rest, you might find yourself thinking things like, “They’ve been in a good mood lately,” or “They have much more energy than usual.”
That said, it could take a night or two for your child to get used to the way the appliance feels. Try to encourage them to keep wearing the appliance, and remind them that it should help them sleep much more comfortably.
Do Sleep Apnea Oral Appliances Need to be Cleaned?
Yes – and this is an excellent question! Bacteria can collect on the appliance, so if your child continues to wear it without taking the time to clean it, they’ll be more likely to develop cavities or gum disease.
A sleep apnea oral appliance should be brushed and rinsed every morning. They should also be kept in a case when not in use. If it would be easier for your child to simply soak their appliance in a denture cleaning solution, that’s also a good way to keep their appliance well-sanitized!