Sleep Apnea and Airway Management for Children

The dentist has an opportunity to be the one with awareness, recognition and realization— the source of absolute transformation of the child’s life.

In 2002, the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics published two amazing reports on Diagnosis and Management of Childhood Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome. The first is the Clinical Practice Guideline, and the second is the Technical Report. These reports are surprisingly little known in the pediatric community as well as in the dental community.

Since the 1970s the literature has been continuous regarding the fact that children’s airway difficulties require intervention. And, the dentist often sees the child patients more frequently than the pediatrician because dental recalls are typically every six months, if not every three months. Thus, the dentist has opportunity to be the one with awareness, recognition and realization— the source of absolute trans- formation of the child’s life.

Carrie was devastated. Her best friend Brennan was having a sleep-over swim party for eight friends at a local hotel with a pool. Carrie wanted to be excited about the party. She and Brennan were inseparable, at school, on the block, and even over the weekends. But Carrie was not excited. She was sad. If she went to the party and shared one of the double beds in the hotel with Brennan, Carrie knew she’d probably wet the bed while sleeping.