Boise Dentist Blog
The professional blog of Doctors Dan Bruce, Steve Bruce, Rosa Pothier and Rob Ririe
Sleep Apnea in Children
After coming home from the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine annual meeting in Seattle I learned some new facts about sleep apnea in children. Sleep apnea in children occurs in 1-3% of children. Enlarged tonsils and adenoids are most commonly the reason for obstruction of the airway. There are various signs and symptoms that may be associated with sleep apnea in children. These include, but are not limited to: excessive tiredness, snoring, slow growth, inability to concentrate and focus, and poor performance in school.The first line treatment for these kids is to remove the tonsils and adenoids. This improves symptoms in many children. After that, expanding the dental arch to make more airway space may be indicated. The good news for sleep apnea in children is treatment is usually very successful and makes a big difference in the child's quality of life.