Overcoming The Sleep Demon: Orthodontist's Perspective

AbstractObstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a prevalent sleep-related breathing disorder in growing children, characterized by recurrent episodes of upper airway obstruction during sleep. If left untreated, paediatric OSA can lead to significant health complications, including neurocognitive impairment, behavioural issues, and craniofacial developmental abnormalities.Sleep Diseases pose a significant health care burden for both individual and society at large. Orthodontists play a crucial role in identifying risk factors and consequences of sleep disorders associated with oral or masticatory system during routine patient visits.This article explores the current treatment modalities for OSA in growing children and aduts, with a focus on orthodontic interventions. Traditional management strategies such as adenotonsillectomy and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy remain primary treatment options; however, orthodontic approaches, including rapid maxillary expansion (RME), mandibular advancement devices (MADs), and myofunctional therapy, have gained prominence due to their potential to address underlying craniofacial anomalies contributing to OSA. Emerging evidence suggests that early orthodontic intervention can facilitate favourable skeletal growth, improve airway patency, and reduce OSA severity in paediatric patients.Keywords: Airway management, Mandibular advancement, Myofunctional therapy, Obstructive sleep apnoea, Orthodontic treatment, Paediatric OSA, Rapid maxillary expansion.