Children’s Airway, Sleep & Growth in Columbus
Healthy Growth and Breathing Begin Early
Breathing well during sleep is an important part of a child’s overall health, development and well-being. When children can breathe comfortably and sleep soundly, their bodies have the opportunity to rest, grow and function at their best.
A child’s airway, jaws, tongue and facial structures develop together. At Whole Tree Dentistry, we look beyond the teeth to consider how breathing patterns, sleep-related symptoms, oral function and dental development may be connected. Identifying concerns early allows us to recommend supportive care and, when appropriate, collaborate with other healthcare providers as your child grows.
Signs Your Child May Need an Airway Evaluation
Children with sleep-related breathing concerns do not always appear sleepy. Some may appear restless, emotional or hyperactive, while others may have difficulty concentrating. Signs can occur during the day or at night and may include:
- Snoring, noisy breathing or heavy breathing during sleep
- Mouth breathing during the day or at night
- Pauses in breathing, gasping, choking or labored breathing during sleep
- Restless sleep, frequent waking or unusual sleeping positions
- Excessive sweating during sleep
- Bedwetting beyond the expected age
- Teeth grinding or clenching
- Difficulty falling asleep or waking in the morning
- Dry mouth, sore throat or headaches upon waking
- Daytime tiredness, irritability, hyperactivity or difficulty concentrating
- Frequent nasal congestion, allergies or difficulty breathing through the nose
- Crowded teeth, a narrow dental arch or concerns about jaw and facial growth
One symptom alone does not necessarily mean that your child has a sleep-related breathing disorder. However, ongoing symptoms—or several signs occurring together—may indicate that a closer evaluation would be helpful. If a medical sleep disorder is suspected, we will recommend evaluation by an appropriate healthcare provider.
Why Breathing, Sleep and Oral Development Are Connected
A child’s breathing, sleep and oral development can influence one another as the child grows. The way a child breathes, the resting position of the tongue, and the development of the jaws and dental arches all contribute to the space available for the teeth and airway.
Ideally, the tongue rests against the roof of the mouth and the child breathes comfortably through the nose. When nasal breathing is difficult or mouth breathing becomes a habit, the tongue may rest lower in the mouth. Over time, this may be associated with a narrow palate, crowded teeth, changes in facial growth or reduced space within the airway.
Poor-quality sleep may also affect a child’s energy, mood, concentration, behavior and overall well-being. By evaluating breathing patterns, oral function and dental development together, we can identify areas of concern and recommend care intended to support healthier growth.
Airway Diagnostics: A Comprehensive Evaluation
Your child’s care begins with an airway consultation. During this visit, Dr. Strickland will listen to your concerns, review your child’s symptoms and history, and perform an initial clinical evaluation. Based on what she observes, she will discuss the most appropriate next steps.
If a more comprehensive evaluation is recommended, your child will return for Airway Diagnostics. This in-depth evaluation looks beyond the teeth to develop a clearer picture of your child’s breathing, sleep, oral function and growth. Dr. Strickland considers the concerns shared by parents or caregivers along with clinical findings and diagnostic records.
Depending on your child’s age and individual needs, Airway Diagnostics may include:
- A detailed review of medical, dental, breathing and sleep history
- Evaluation of the teeth, bite, jaws and facial development
- Assessment of the tongue, lips, oral muscles and range of motion
- Examination of the palate, tonsil area and other oral structures
- Evaluation of nasal and mouth-breathing patterns
- Clinical photographs and digital scans
- 3D imaging to evaluate dental development, oral structures and airway-related anatomy, when appropriate
- SleepImage Ring screening to gather additional information about your child’s sleep and breathing patterns
After reviewing the findings, Dr. Strickland will meet with you to explain what was observed and discuss individualized recommendations. Because the SleepImage Ring is used as a screening tool for children, any concern for a medical sleep disorder will require referral to an appropriate medical provider for diagnosis.
Individualized Treatment Recommendations
Every child’s needs are different. After reviewing your child’s symptoms, oral function, dental development, jaw growth, airway-related findings, and stage of development, Dr. Strickland will explain whether treatment, additional monitoring or referral to another healthcare provider is recommended.
Whole Tree Dentistry is a Vivos Integrated Practice and offers several treatment approaches for children. Depending on your child’s age and individual findings, recommendations may include a Vivos appliance, Myobrace, an orthodontic expander, airway-focused Candid Pro clear aligners, myofunctional exercises, or another appropriate option. Treatment may be designed to support oral function, guide dental and jaw development, create adequate space for developing permanent teeth, and encourage healthier breathing patterns.
Collaboration and Referrals
A child’s breathing and sleep concerns may involve more than the teeth and jaws. Depending on your child’s findings, Dr. Strickland may recommend evaluation by a pediatrician, ENT, sleep physician, orthodontist, myofunctional therapist or another qualified healthcare provider.
With your permission, we can share relevant findings and records to help support communication among your child’s providers. Whole Tree Dentistry evaluates oral development and screens for signs associated with sleep-related breathing concerns; medical conditions, including pediatric obstructive sleep apnea, must be diagnosed and managed by an appropriate medical provider.
What Parents Can Expect
Your child’s care begins with an airway consultation. Dr. Strickland will listen to your concerns, review your child’s symptoms and history, perform an initial clinical evaluation, and discuss whether Airway Diagnostics or another next step is recommended.
If your child proceeds with Airway Diagnostics, the necessary records will be gathered and carefully reviewed. You will then return for a Case Presentation with Dr. Strickland to discuss the findings and her individualized recommendations.
If treatment is recommended, our team will explain its purpose, what will be expected at home, the expected schedule for progress visits, any recommended referrals, and treatment fees and payment options.
Parents play an important role in helping children wear their appliances, complete exercises and develop healthier habits. Because children grow at different rates, treatment recommendations and timelines may be adjusted as your child develops.
Frequently Asked Questions
Occasional snoring during a cold or period of nasal congestion can happen. However, frequent or ongoing snoring, especially when accompanied by mouth breathing, restless sleep, heavy sweating, gasping or daytime concerns, should not be ignored.
Children can be evaluated at any age when concerns involving breathing, sleep, oral habits or development are noticed. There is no need to wait for all of the permanent teeth to come in or for symptoms to become more severe.
Because the jaws and dental arches are still developing during childhood, early evaluation may provide more opportunities to support healthy growth and preserve space for developing permanent teeth. Dr. Strickland will recommend care based on your child’s symptoms, age and stage of development.
For children, the SleepImage Ring is used as a screening tool to gather information about sleep and breathing patterns at home. This screening is not used to diagnose a medical sleep disorder. Findings that raise concern require evaluation by an appropriate medical provider.
Previous records may provide helpful background information and can be shared with our office for review. However, the examination and diagnostic imaging required by Dr. Strickland for treatment planning must be completed at Whole Tree Dentistry so she can personally evaluate your child and make appropriate recommendations.
Treatment time varies according to your child’s age, growth, recommended treatment and consistency with wearing appliances or completing exercises. Because children continue to grow and develop, treatment may occur in phases and recommendations may change over time.
Coverage varies by dental plan and the type of treatment recommended. Whole Tree Dentistry is out of network with most insurance plans, and families should confirm that their plan includes out-of-network benefits. Our team will explain treatment fees, estimated dental benefits when available and payment plan options before treatment begins. We do not file medical insurance or Medicaid.
Request a Children’s Airway Consultation
If you have concerns about your child’s breathing, sleep, oral habits or development, you do not have to wait for the symptoms to become more severe. Contact Whole Tree Dentistry to learn more about scheduling a children’s airway consultation with Dr. Strickland.
