Oral devices to treat sleep apnea in children

This article discusses how oral devices can help treat sleep apnea in children.

Snoring and sleep apnea can affect anyone of any age.  For children, who frequently sleep alone, grinding of the teeth or reflux disease may be the first signs of the condition, and may first be noticed by a well-trained dentist.

Snoring and other signs of disturbed sleep, such as long pauses in breathing, tossing and turning in bed, chronic mouth breathing during sleep, and night sweats are possible signs of sleep apnea, according to www.sleepapnea.org.  The website states that studies suggest that as many as 25% of children diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder may actually have symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, and that much of their learning difficulty and behavioral issues can be the result of chronic fragmented sleep.

Snoring occurs when the flow of air through the mouth and nose is physically obstructed.  Blocked nasal passages, poor muscle tone in the throat and tongue, bulky throat tissue (common in overweight patients), and a long soft palate or uvula can contribute to airflow obstruction.

Oral appliances for treatment of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can be helpful, especially in adolescents whose facial bone growth is largely incomplete.  One device, according to www.sleepapnea.com, which rapidly expands the transversal diameter of the hard palate over a six-month to one-year period, has been successfully used in patients as young as age six.

In the United States, oral devices to treat OSA can’t be sold over the counter. They must be prescribed by a physician and fitted by a dentist.  An oral breathing device used to treat pediatric OSA must be refitted periodically as the child grows.

Read more here

Dental device could treat sleep apnea

This article discusses a new dental device that can work as a CPAP alternative to treat sleep apnea.

In the U.S, 22 million people suffer from sleep apnea. The most popular treatment is known as continuous positive airflow pressure, also called CPAP. However, if the condition is not severe enough CPAP may not be effective.

So, some patients are trying a different approach that’s been around for a while for treating the sleep disorder, and it’s found in their dental office.

Ted Durkee is 67 years old. He is seeing his dentist, not because of a tooth ache, but for sleep apnea.

“I always had problems with dozing off in the afternoon in the office and people would joke about that,” Durkee told Ivanhoe.

He suffered for years, until he finally decided to participate in a home sleep study to evaluate his sleep patterns. The device measured his heart rate along with blood oxygen levels. The test revealed Durkee had low oxygen levels, which means he has sleep apnea.

“I didn’t have to go for two nights at a different location. I could sleep in my own bed,” Durkee explained.

His doctor prescribed oral appliance therapy, or OAT. It’s a mouth appliance that moves Durkee’s jaw forward to help him breathe easier while sleeping.

“Mr. Durkee was the ideal patient because he has… he’s on the mild end of apnea,” Gretchen Zody, DDS, Dentist/Sleep Expert, told Ivanhoe.

Dr. Gretchen Zody said she can see signs of sleep apnea just by looking in her patients’ mouths.

“Their tongue can be scalloped along the edges so you can actually see the indentations of the teeth,” Dr. Zody explained.

That’s because patients push their tongue forward to clear their airway. Other signs include bruxism, grinding of the teeth, acid reflux, and snoring.

It took a few weeks for Durkee to notice a difference, but he said now his oxygen levels are back to normal and he hasn’t experienced any side effects.

“I have a lot more energy,” Durkee explained. “The bags under my eyes are not as severe as they have been in the past.”

Typically most insurance companies will cover the treatment, but patients must prove they cannot tolerate the CPAP in order to get the appliance.

Without insurance, the treatment will cost about $2500.

Patients who are not good candidates for the treatment are those who don’t have enough teeth, because the appliance must hook onto a solid row of teeth.

Read more here