Do you notice your little one snores or gasps and chokes during sleep? Breathing issues that impact sleep could lead to major complications for your child, from behavioral issues to exhaustion. Fortunately, we can help families in Livonia, MI, with orthotropic treatment. Don’t let breathing difficulties impact your child’s ability to grow and thrive!
Sleep Disordered Breathing
Problems with the growth and development of your child’s oral structures could make breathing difficult at night. As the child struggles to breathe, he or she has trouble reaching the deep, REM stage of sleep. Even though your little one “slept” the night before, the next day he or she will often feel tired, moody, and have trouble concentrating on tasks at work or school. Behavioral issues, difficulty reaching emotional milestones, and being misdiagnosed as ADD or ADHD could also occur. Children may also have trouble staying asleep, may wake frequently in the night (and sleep walk/talk). Outburst and tantrums, especially in ages where such an occurrence should be minimal or nonexistent, could also occur. In addition, as the child’s body attempts to create airways during sleep, the risk of acid reflux and other complications develop.
Facial Structure Impact
The issues with your child’s jaw and oral structures that cause breathing difficulties could also impact their appearance. Treating the problem with orthotropic devices helps improve facial structure, guiding the growth of the child’s jaw and oral tissues, allowing better breathing and improved facial esthetics. In addition, correcting jaw growth could also improve dental alignment, helping your little one avoid the onset of crooked and crowded teeth that would require braces in the future.
The Orthotropic Treatment Process
How do you treat this issue? Well, we will create a custom-made oral appliance, such as a Biobloc appliance. In appearance, the appliance resembles a nightguard. The child wears the device at night. Over time, the device repositions the jaw to create unobstructed airways, while also improving jaw and oral structure growth over time. Long-term benefits include a reduced risk of sleep apnea in adulthood. Treatment also helps reduce the amount of time a child will need to wear braces, or may help them avoid misalignment altogether. If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s sleep habits or if you think he or she needs a diagnosis, then please contact our team today. We want to help your little one rest easy!
Does Your Child Have Trouble Breathing at Night?
Talk to our team to discuss orthotropics and other solutions to poor sleep and breathing difficulties. Remember, better rest means better quality of life. James Stewart, DDS, and our team serve patients from Livonia, MI, as well as Farmington Hills, Farmington, and the surrounding communities. To schedule a consultation, call our office today at (734) 425-4400.