What is it?
Breathing is silent in health. Pediatric sleep disordered breathing (SDB) refers to difficulty breathing during sleep in children.
It ranges from mild turbulent breath sounds (mild snoring) to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition where the airway is partially or completely blocked.
- Occurs in 10–25% of typically developing preschool-aged children.
- More frequent in children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Symptoms of SDB
Nighttime:
- Snoring or “turbulent” breathing
- Bedwetting
- Frequent waking and fragmented sleep
Physiologic:
- Cardiovascular issues
- Obesity
Daytime:
- Sleepiness
- Neuropsychiatric and developmental issues
- Irritability
- Learning difficulties
Causes of SDB
Pediatric SDB occurs when the airway is smaller or less rigid than needed to provide adequate airflow/oxygen.
Possible causes:
- Anatomical: Insufficient growth of the jaws/face or excess soft tissue (tonsils, tongue, or fat deposits).
- Functional: Low muscular tone and poor posture.
An airway-focused dentist can help detect and sometimes treat these issues.
Treatments for SDB
Your primary care physician manages the first line of treatment, which may include:
- Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (to increase airway space)
- CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure)
Other less invasive options:
Frenectomy to improve tongue posture and function
Dental appliances to change jaw size/position
Myofunctional therapy (mouth muscle physical therapy) to improve muscle tone and airway function