Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Comprehensive Review from a Pediatric Dentist’s Perspective

Sleep is an important physiologic process that undergoes significant changes through the various developmental stages from early childhood through adulthood. Any disturbance to this physiologic process during childhood leads to impaired growth and development. Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a prevalent sleep-related breathing disorder affecting children which often goes undiagnosed leading to long-term systemic complications. In a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosing and treating this condition, pediatric dentists have been found to play a crucial role in early assessment. This is due to their ability to recognise various craniofacial signs and symptoms associated with the condition. These signs include jaw growth abnormalities and features such as a shortened lingual frenum and sleep bruxism. By conducting routine dental examinations in children, pediatric dentists are ideally situated to identify these indicators at an early stage. The role of a pediatric dentist is not limited to diagnosis. Still, it is attributed to various non-surgical treatment modalities that can modify the growth and development of the jaw bones thereby improving the condition and in preventing long-term complications. This narrative review emphasizes the role of pediatric dentists in the early identification of pediatric OSA and provides a comprehensive overview of evidence-based practices for managing these patients or referring them for further specialized care. Keywords: Diagnosis, management, pediatric dentistry, sleep apnea