Airway Dentistry for Kids
What is Airway Dentistry
At Village Kids Pediatric Dentistry, we focus on the relationship between oral structures, breathing, and overall health. By evaluating your child’s head, face, jaws, and neck, our pediatric airway dentist, Dr. Mike can identify and treat issues that impact breathing and sleep like restricted airways, tongue ties, and lip ties. Addressing the root causes of airway-related problems promotes optimal health and emphasizes early detection and intervention to prevent long-term complications like sleep apnea, developmental concerns, and chronic health issues.
Signs and Symptoms of a Restricted Airway
A restricted airway can significantly impact health and well-being. The symptoms often stem from structural issues like a narrow palate, tongue ties, or underdeveloped jaws, which push the tongue back into the airway, causing obstructions.
Common signs and symptoms include:
- Mouth breathing
- Snoring
- Restless sleep
- Bedwetting
- Difficulty concentrating
- Behavioral issues
- Slow facial or jaw development
- Crowded teeth
- Narrow palate
- Speech difficulties due to restricted tongue movement
Pediatric Airway Assessment
Our airway dentist for kids, Dr. Mike, provides comprehensive assessments starting at birth to ensure optimal airway health. All treatment begins with a thorough evaluation for children of all ages.
1. Review Medical History:
Dr. Mike reviews your child’s medical records for respiratory issues, sleep apnea, or prior airway difficulties and talk about any snoring, mouth breathing, or recent infections.
2. Assess Your Child:
Breathing, Face, and Mouth:
Signs of breathing problems will often present in nasal flaring or fast breathing. We assess your child’s breathing behavior as well as look for small jaw, large tongue, or facial abnormalities that could complicate airway access.
Nasal Passage and Throat:
Dr. Mike checks for nasal obstruction from congestion or large adenoids. Testing nasal breathing, we have your child breathe through one nostril, if possible. We use a light to assess tonsil size and throat visibility that may suggest potential airway obstruction.
Neck and Jaw:
Ensuring the neck moves freely and the jaw opens wide, we evaluate your child’s ability to move. Limited movement can make airway management harder.
Teeth and Oral Structures:
We identify any loose teeth, large tongue, or dental appliances that might interfere with airway access.
3. Screen for Sleep Apnea:
Dr. Mike discusses if your child experiences loud snoring, daytime tiredness, or breathing pauses during sleep. These symptoms indicate a higher risk of airway issues under sedation.
4. Monitor Your Child’s Breathing:
Counting breaths and check oxygen levels allows us to uncover any underlying respiratory problems.
5. Customize a Treatment Plan:
Dr. Mike gives your child an airway risk score (low, moderate, high) and discuss any issues we discovered. Together, we create a treatment plan that works best for your child’s unique needs and your specific situation.
Tongue and Lip Ties
What is a Tongue-Tie?
Ankyloglossia, or tongue-tie, is the restriction of tongue movement as a result of fusion or adherence of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. A tongue-tie is therefore caused by a frenum that is abnormally short or attached too close to the tip of the tongue. Tongue ties can lead to airway constriction by preventing the tongue from resting properly against the palate, which is essential for jaw and airway development. Untreated tongue ties may contribute to sleep-disordered breathing, mouth breathing, and TMJ issues.
What is a Lip-Tie?
A lip-tie occurs when the upper lip remains attached to the upper gum. It can limit the ability to form a proper lip seal and encourage mouth breathing over nasal breathing. A narrow palate can also be the result of a restricted lip causing the upper jaw to not develop properly. Poor speech and swallowing patterns, TMJ issues, and sleep apnea or chronic nasal obstruction can be the result of an untreated lip tie.
When Do I Need to Treat a Tongue or Lip Tie?
Dr. Mike, our pediatric airway dentist, recommends treatment when a tongue or lip tie interferes with essential functions or development. In infants, signs include difficulty breastfeeding, poor latch, or slow weight gain. In children, speech delays, dental crowding, or sleep issues may indicate a need for intervention. A comprehensive airway assessment, including tongue and lip tie screening, helps determine if treatment is necessary.
Frenectomy
At Village Kids Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Mike uses a CO2 Lightscapel laser to vaporizes the frenum with minimal discomfort, trauma, bleeding, and scar tissue. The frenum is lasered under the tongue or upper lip to allow for better range of motion. In infants, it improves tongue mobility, aiding breastfeeding, sleep, and jaw development. In children, it improves speech issues, eating difficulties, and airway problems like mouth breathing or sleep apnea. Post-procedure, myofunctional therapy may be recommended by Dr. Mike to ensure proper tongue function and body tension release.
Benefits of Releasing a Tongue or Lip Tie
- Ideal latch for breastfeeding efficiency
- Normal speech development
- Improved nasal breathing
- Ability to self-cleanse the mouth while eating
- Adequate swallowing patterns
- Proper facial growth and development
- Enhanced tongue posture
- Reduced sleep disordered breathing
- Allows for fun things like eating ice cream, kissing, or sticking your tongue out to catch raindrops
Next Steps
The best way to find out if your child has any airway related issues or needs a frenectomy for a tongue or lip tie is to schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Mike, your trusted airway dentist for kids at Village Kids Pediatric Dentistry in Hartsdale, NY.
SCHEDULE A consultation
We can't wait to meet you and your child
Call 914-902-5665 or book an appointment online to set up your first visit. We'll be in touch soon.
Serving Hartsdale and our neighbors in Scarsdale, White Plains, Ardsley, Rivertowns, Tarrytown, & Irvington
