Research Articles

Reasons to Treat Early

The link between SDB (Sleep Disordered Breathing), airway dimension, and forward growth of the face is becoming clear in the literature.

Why consider expansion for OSA?

Format: Abstract

Sleep. 2004 Jun 15;27(4):761-6.

Rapid maxillary expansion in children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Pirelli P¹, Saponara M, Guilleminault C.

Author information

1 Department of Odontological Sciences, University Tor Vergata, Rome Italy.

Objective

To evaluate the effect of rapid maxillary expansion on children with nasal breathing and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Results

Of 31 children in the Pirelli study, average age of 8 y/o, every child normalized at 4 month followup

Repeat-Every child had their sleep apnea eliminated. The mean apnea-hypopnea index was 12.2 events per hour. At the 4-month follow-up, the anterior rhinometry was normal, and all children had an apnea-hypopnea index < 1 event per hour = normal !

Obstructive sleep disordered breathing in children: beyond adenotonsillectomy.

Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008 Sep;43(9):837-43. doi: 10.1002/ppul.20888.

Praud JP¹, Dorion D.

...some recent results suggest that complete SDB cure is not achieved in as many as 75% cases after AT.

Finally, orthodontic treatments are an appealing option, with recent results in children suggesting that it is possible to improve or perhaps even cure SDB in a durable manner by enlarging the nasal passages and/or the oropharyngeal airspace.

Primary snoring in school children: prevalence and neurocognitive impairments.

Sleep Breath. 2012 Mar;16(1):23-9. doi: 10.1007/s11325-011-0480-6. Epub 2011 Jan 16.

Brockmann PE¹, Urschitz MS, Schlaud M, Poets CF.

Results

Compared to children who had never snored, children with Primary Snoring had Double:

Hyperactive behavior
Inattentive behavior
Poor school performance in
- Mathematics
- Science
- Spelling

Conclusions

Children who SNORE may exhibit significant neurocognitive impairments. Snoring is not “benign” and may require treatment.