The accreditors of this session require that you periodically check in to verify that you are still attentive.
Please click the button below to indicate that you are.
Mouth breathing is one of the most common clinical manifestations of pediatric SDB. Children whose mouth breathing remains untreated may develop long, narrow faces, high palatal vaults, dental malocclusion, gummy smiles etc. because of orofacial muscle imbalance. SDB in children has been associated with a variety of comorbidities, including failure to thrive, hypertension, attention deficit disorder, enuresis etc. Orthodontists who have the knowledge of SDB can play an important role in the early diagnosis and treatment of pediatric SDB. It is recommended that the orthodontist perform a clinical risk assessment for SDB. Orthodontists may be involved in the treatment of pediatric SDB by correcting the underlying dental and skeletal deformities. When making the orthodontic treatment plan, orthodontists should account for children’s upper airway condition.
Learning Objectives:
Consider children’s upper airway condition when making the orthodontic treatment plan.
Recognize that children whose mouth breathing remains untreated may develop long, narrow faces, high palatal vaults, dental malocclusion, gummy smiles etc. because of orofacial muscle imbalance.
Recognize that SDB in children has been associated with a variety of comorbidities, including failure to thrive, hypertension, attention deficit disorder, enuresis etc.
