Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children: Exploring the Role of Dentists in Diagnosis and Treatment

Abstract

Among the many aspects important in a child's development is sleep. Sleep disorderscan impair children's sleep and result in negative consequences. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)is one such disorder which involves blockage of the airway during sleep. The impact of OSA on the growth and development of a child may have detrimental effects on health, neuropsychological development and quality of life.One of the main causes of childhood OSA is hypertrophic adenoids and tonsils. As dentists often look into children's mouth, they can play an active role in identifying those with enlarged tonsils and referring them for sleep assessment.Therapeutic measures include not only surgical extraction of hypertrophic adenoids and tonsils, but also nonsurgical alternatives such as continuous positive air pressure, anti-inflammatory agents and oral appliances (OAs). Hence the therapeutic interventions that are directed at the site of airway obstruction in the maxillofacial region are within the scope of dentistry.