Sleep apnea in children

Abstract

The Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) is a frecuent pathology among children, underrated for a long
time, and usually brings serious complications. The most common OSA is determined by the repeated collapse of the pharynx (partial or complete) during sleep, followed by the sudden need to awake in order to recover ventilation. The main cause of OSA is the anatomical
narrowness in the upper airways, and this may be due to soft tissue hypertrophy or the craniofacial structure. The abnormalities of the local neuromuscular controls, with tone decreased dilators muscles of the pharynx, may be in the origin of the SAOS, or can join morphological abnormalities, as in certain syndromes. Given his knowledge on the anatomy and physiology of the stomatognathic system and upper airways, the orthodontist orthopedic maxillofacial dentist, occupies an important position fronting the possibility, in one hand, of an early detection of this syndrome among young patients,
and on the other hand, establishing the treatment of malocclusion, that, while correcting morpho-functional alterations of the S.E., can decrease the chances of the occurrence of complications, which contribute to the etiology of this syndrome. His actions can go from helping the patient to identify a
possible sleep disorder, by questioning the family members and patient, referring to other specialists, to a roll or participation in a global treatment, either correcting the deficit cross of the nasal passages and the narinari valves or repositioning the jaw by maxillary expansion.