What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a disorder that obstructs the normal breathing process when an individual is trying to sleep. Patients who have a sleep disorder can stop breathing many times per hour, which means they are not getting the rest they need.
How can sleep apnea cause bedwetting in children?
When children don’t get sufficient or restful sleep, as is the case if they have sleep apnea, the response time for waking up to go to the bathroom is slower. Additionally, during an apneic event, the brain is concentrating on the more important and life-sustaining task of taking in oxygen, rather than communicating a full bladder.
What dental treatments are available to help your child?
If your child has a sleep disorder resulting from a dental cause, such as a misaligned jaw, he or she may benefit from therapeutic dental treatments.
When seeking help from a dentist, it is important to find one that has received additional training in therapeutic treatments for sleep disorders as well as advanced cosmetic, reconstructive and neuromuscular dentistry.
These treatments vary, depending on the cause and severity of your child’s sleep apnea, but may include:
- Specially designed dental orthotics called MADs, or Mandibular Advancement Devices, to prevent the tongue and jaw from relaxing and blocking the airway
- CPAP and other snoring devices
- Orthodontics
Is a dental problem is causing your child’s bed-wetting?
If you would like to learn more about sleep apnea in children, please schedule a consultation. This is a great time to get the answers to your questions and find out what treatments may help to resolve your child’s obstructive sleep apnea and bedwetting once and for all.