As the centerpiece of a dental office, the dental chair offers unique access to the oral cavity, a gateway to the entire body, where we as dentists and orthodontists observe either detriments or precursors to well-being. In fact, the six month dental visit outdoes the yearly trip to the doctor (mathematically) in keeping with good health and warding off problems.
A quick online check can reveal how an exam of the mouth’s structure and chemistry can detect certain and various habits and maladies that may be harrowing to health. One such malady in society today is undiagnosed Sleep Apnea, a breathing disorder that decreases airflow during sleep compromising REM, the fourth stage, or deep sleep needed by
the body to restore itself. This affliction while harmful to the human condition in general, can be absolutely oppressive in the lives of children, presenting as poor attention span, challenging behavioral issues, and sub-standard school performance. Added to this, left undetected, nocturnal breathing disturbances are a portal to serious adult impairments, diseases and increased health care use.
When a child is brought into our office many parents are aware that dental caries and periodontal status are being evaluated; most don’t know that we are singularly positioned to screen for obstructive sleep apnea (as it) originates in the oral cavity and associated structures; or that pediatric treatments and recommendations differ from those of adults, if you have witnessed restlessness, snoring or breathing pauses in your sleeping child, let’s get them into the dental chair.