The Role of the Orthodontist in the Diagnosis of Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients. Pediatric OSA is characterized by intermittent complete or partial obstruction (obstructive apnea or hypopnea); prolonged partial upper airway obstruction; or both prolonged and intermittent obstructions that disrupt normal ventilation during sleep, normal sleep patterns, or both. The prevalence in children has been estimated at 1% to 4%, from 1.1% in pre-school age to 4% in school-age but the prevalence may currently be higher due to the pediatric obesity epidemic. The prevalence of positive risk was found to be significantly higher in the general pediatric orthodontic population than in a healthy pediatric population (5%). OSAS prevalence has 2 peak periods: The first peak occurs in children from 2 to 8 years of age, with the presence of enlarged adenoid and/or tonsils. The orthodontists have an important role in identifying the risk factors (eg, high narrow hard palate, overlapping incisors, crossbite).


Learning Objectives
After this lecture, you will be able to identify risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea in children
After this lecture, you will be able to know the main signs and symptoms
After this lecture, you will be able to use the main diagnostic questionnaires