Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: Emerging Evidence and Treatment Approach

Abstract

OSA pediatric subjects suffer from episodes of upper airway obstruction that can be partial or complete, with atypical sleep patterns and blood-gas level alteration. If poor treated and/or diagnosed, it can cause cardiovascular disease, learning difficulties, behavioural issues, and retardation of growth. In the literature, there are conflicting evidence about OSA assessment and treatment in pediatric age, so the aim of this paper is to highlight the multidisciplinary approach in the management of sleep disorders, stressing the role of the pediatric dentist in both diagnosing and treating the OSAS in children, according to the current evidence of the treatment options effectiveness of the syndrome itself. Conclusions. Scientific evidence shows that OSAS management requires a multidisciplinary approach in order to make an early diagnosis and a correct treatment plan. The orthodontic treatment approach includes orthopedic maxillary expansion and mandibular advancement using intraoral appliances. Hence, the orthodontist and the pediatric dentist play an important role not only in early diagnosis but also in the treatment of pediatric OSAS.

Life Quality of Children Affected by Cleft Lip Palate and Alveolus (CLPA)

“…The complexity of the malformation itself requires a multidisciplinary approach to minimize complications and discomforts for the paediatric patients and the paediatric dentist must be part of the cleft-multidisciplinary team. Moreover, the often-severe malocclusions these patients present requires complex and early orthodontic treatment, for which tooth health is necessary, as they represent the support for any orthodontic appliance [6][7][8][9][10]. In addition, the higher prevalence of tooth anomalies in shape, number, and enamel composition in CLPA patients determine a higher risk for severe carious lesions, also in primary dentition [4,5].…”

“…Also, the dentist is involved in the treatment of cleft patients, as the prevalence of dental anomalies and subsequent malocclusion is much higher than in the general population [4,5]. Therefore, orthodontic and restorative treatments are often necessary [6][7][8][9][10].…”

Prosthetically Guided Orthodontics (PGO): A Personalized Clinical Approach for Aesthetic Solutions Using Digital Technology

“…Thus, patients who refer to dental offices generally feature less edentulism than in the past and are more interested in aesthetic solutions rather than improving function. In addition, patients’ aesthetic expectations have tremendously grown, probably in conjunction with the advent of social media and people’s desire to share and “immortalize” daily moments with photos, selfies, or videos [ 24 , 25 , 26 ]. In this scenario, the role of the clinicians is to find the ideal compromise between the patient’s aesthetic expectations and the functional outcomes.…”

Clinical and anatomical characteristics associated with obstructive sleep apnea severity in children

“… 31 Recent literature evidence that OSA management requires a multidisciplinary approach in order to make an early diagnosis and a correct treatment plan. 32 The interdisciplinary work from health professionals is essential for a good OSA treatment approach in children.…”