Sleep‐disordered breathing in children seeking orthodontic care—an Australian perspective

Abstract

Background The prevalence of sleep‐disordered breathing in children is underestimated due to impediments in detection and diagnosis. Consequently, delayed management may affect the quality of life and the growth and development of a child. Due to their patient demographic, orthodontists are optimally positioned to identify those at risk of sleep‐disordered breathing and make referrals for investigation and management. This study aims to determine the prevalence of children at risk of sleep‐disordered breathing in an Australian orthodontic population. Methods A 1‐year retrospective study was conducted in an urban Western Australian private orthodontic practice with two branches in similar socioeconomic demographics. The responses of new patients to a modified paediatric sleep questionnaire and standard medical history form were recorded. Results In 1209 patients (4–18 years), 7.3% were at risk of sleep‐disordered breathing. An association between sex and the potential risk of sleep‐disordered breathing was found with 11% of males at risk of sleep‐disordered breathing compared to 7% of females (P = 0.012). Conclusions The relatively high prevalence of children at risk of sleep‐disordered breathing presenting for orthodontic care presents an opportunity to identify at‐risk individuals through routine use of the paediatric sleep questionnaire. This would facilitate early referral for diagnosis and management of sleep‐disordered breathing.