Snoring/Mouth Breathing in Lewisville

At Castle Hills 3D Orthodontics, we utilize orthodontic care to assist in aligning and straightening teeth not only to improve appearance and bite, but to also improve a person’s breathing and sleep patterns. Sleep apnea in children is a bigger problem than most people think and symptoms of sleep apnea and disrupted sleep can often be identified and treated in children as young as 2!

Come in for a free consult to learn more about how we can improve your breathing!

At Castle Hills 3D Orthodontics, we utilize orthodontic care to assist in aligning and straightening teeth not only to improve appearance and bite, but to also improve a person’s breathing and sleep patterns. Sleep apnea in children is a bigger problem than most people think and symptoms of sleep apnea and disrupted sleep can often be identified and treated in children as young as 2!

Come in for a free consult to learn more about how we can improve your breathing!

Children who experience snoring or gasping for air while they sleep will inevitably suffer with poor sleep quality. That can make them feel tired even upon awakening, cause excessive day time sleepiness, and lead to a lack of concentration and lower scores at school.

Children who breathe solely through their mouths might also be struggling with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). They could also be at risk for behavioral/medical issues such as lower school performance, an inability to focus, and other mood/behavior issues. 

It is important to breathe through your nose because breathing through your mouth can have adverse effects on your teeth, jaw, and facial bone growth. The root causes for mouth breathing should be detected and addressed as early as possible to prevent adverse effects on facial and jaw growth. How you breathe as a child will determine how your face will look for the rest of your life. 

All of our patients will receive a free airway analysis to assist in the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea due to airway constriction. Dr. Seif can help to prevent and/or treat the adverse effects of mouth breathing or OSA on your teeth, jaws and facial growth. If sleep apnea treatment is deemed necessary, our office will assis you in seeking treatment from a specialist who can offer solutions. We want you and your child to be able to breathe (and sleep) easier!

Many parents are unaware that their child is experiencing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Sleep apnea happens when the upper airway is blocked for different reasons such as enlarged tonsils or adenoids, and the child stops breathing during sleep.  Child with OSA might be experiencing one or more of the following symptoms

• Snoring.
• Breathing pauses during sleep.
• Gasping for breath causes the child to wake up repeatedly. 
• bed-wetting.
• Trouble staying awake during the day.
• Unexplained fatigue during daytime 
• Low school performance
• Unusual events during sleep such as sleepwalking or nightmares.
• Teeth grinding.

A Child with OSA breaths through the mouth and usually develops oral symptoms. Mouth breathing might cause dry mouth and lead to tooth decay and gum inflammation. A child with OSA might have narrow dental arches, small lower jaw and crooked teeth.

We screen all of our patients for OSA, however definitive diagnosis should be done by a physician. As part of orthodontic records we do 3D xray (CBCT scan) and clinical diagnosis.

We treat all the oral symptoms of OSA in our officand we provide several different options. We can advance  the lower jaw to provide more space for the tongue and to correct the bite and the soft tissue profile (growth modifications). We expand narrow arches and align crooked teeth either with Damon Braces or with Spark Aligners 

Some children may need to have their tonsils or adenoids surgically removed to clear the airway.

It is possible that surgery could be recommended as a solution to obstructive sleep apnea or mouth breathing, especially in adults. But in children orthodontic appliances to advance the lower jaw will be to correct the breathing issues if done in proper timing before the child growth spurt.  A thorough evaluation can determine the best course of treatment with the least invasive option.

Poor quality sleep and incorrect breathing habits can have lifelong negative effects on your health and well being, and the problem can begin in early childhood. The sooner airway orthodontics are applied to correct the problem, the better for the patient. Airway orthodontics encourages proper growth of the jaw and facial structure to promote healthy breathing.