airway dentistry for kids
Children's Airway Health Assessment | Twinsburg
Our dentists understand that how well your child breathes impacts their oral and overall health. Nasal breathing is optimal breathing, so ensuring your child breathes through their nose (rather than through their mouth) lies at the heart of airway dentistry.
To that end, your child’s dental check-ups and exams at Great Beginnings Pediatric Dentistry include an airway health assessment. Through a simple series of non-invasive observations and questions, our dentists can identify possible airway obstructions and sleep disordered breathing (SBD) issues in your child. If any concerns are present, Dr. Rachel and Dr. Laura can help you coordinate the right care to get your child on their way to nasal breathing for more restful sleep, fewer cavities, and better overall health!
Signs Your Child Needs an
Airway Health Assessment
The most obvious signs that an airway assessment is a good idea for your child is that they snore and/or grind their teeth. Other signs, however, are less intuitive. For instance, the following items may also indicate your child has an airway obstruction and/or sleep disordered breathing:
- Snoring and/or teeth grinding
- Bed wetting at an older age
- Picky eating
- Drool-soaked pillow upon waking
- Slow, laborious eater
- Dry, cracked lips in the morning
- Frequent lip licking
- Restless Sleep
- Daytime sleepiness
- Poor attention at school
- Feeling anxious without clear cause
Airway Obstruction Treatments at Great Beginnings Pediatric Dentistry
The cause of your child’s airway obstruction or sleep disordered breathing will determine the treatment. Our doctors work with an extensive network of airway informed providers from multiple disciplines that can help optimize oral health outcomes and nasal breathing treatments, including:
- Laser Frenectomy
- Lip Taping
- Nasal Passage Clearing Education
- Orthodontic Referral
- Myofunctional Therapy Referral
- ENT Referral
- Lactation Consultant Referral
- Chiropractor or Bodyworker Referral
Benefits of Airway Dentistry
If you suspect your child has an airway obstruction or disordered breathing issue, early treatment offers the best outcomes! A pediatric airway dentist is your best resource for a comprehensive evaluation. Children who have their airway issues treated enjoy all of the following benefits:
More Restful Sleep
Optimal Jaw Development
Fewer Cavities
Improved Speech & Swallow Function
Better Attention Span
Healthier Immune System
Improved Behavior
Less Picky Eating or Food Texture Issues
At Great Beginnings Pediatric Dentistry, we remain committed to trying minimally invasive treatment options first whenever advisable. We also work in coordination with other healthcare providers to treat your child’s airway health issues when necessary.
Schedule Your Child's Airway Assessment & Sleep Assessment at GBPD
The way your child breathes affects how they eat, sleep, and grow—it even plays a significant role in maintaining a healthy immune system. Indeed, airway health is overall health! Thus, if you see your child in several of the signs of an airway health concern above, an airway assessment for your child is advisable.
Your Twinsburg Airway Dentists are Acceping New Patients
Drs. Rachel, Laura, and Danielle are accepting new pediatric dental and airway dentistry patients under the age of 17 years of age at their Twinsburg, Ohio office. Airway dentistry for children helps ensure your child’s airway health and oral health work optimally for your child’s overall health, growth, and development. Contact Great Beginnings Pediatric Dentistry today to schedule your child’s appointment.
