Urgent safety information: If your child is struggling severely to breathe, turns blue or gray, or becomes unresponsive, call 911. Do not use an appointment request form for an emergency. (healthychildren.org)
Free Growth, Airway & Function Orthodontic Evaluation for Kids 3-9
$0-down, 0% interest plans available
Pediatric Orthodontics of Sun Prairie Book free evaluation
Sun Prairie Airway & Sleep Screening

When Breathing and Sleep Deserve a Closer Look

Frequent snoring, difficulty breathing during sleep, and persistent mouth breathing are worth discussing with your child’s pediatrician.

Coordinated Dental Screening & Medical Referral

Our dental evaluation can contribute useful information about the teeth, jaws, and oral structures. It does not replace a medical sleep evaluation. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry encourages dental professionals to screen for sleep related breathing concerns and refer children with suspected obstructive sleep apnea to an appropriate medical provider. (aapd.org)

Our role is screening, education, and coordinated dental care. A physician evaluates and diagnoses suspected sleep disorders.

Request an Evaluation 608 473 3980

Key Focus Areas

  • Dental arch width & oral posture assessment
  • Identification of potential breathing barriers
  • Coordinated physician referrals (Pediatricians & ENTs)
  • Individualized orthodontic evaluation
Patient safety & evidence-based dental care.
Parental Observation

Signs Parents May Notice

Tell your child’s pediatrician about any of the following symptoms:

Frequent snoring
Breathing that repeatedly stops and starts during sleep
Gasping or obvious breathing effort
Persistent mouth breathing
Frequent waking or disrupted sleep
Morning headaches or dry mouth
Daytime sleepiness
Attention or behavior concerns occurring alongside poor sleep
Daytime Symptoms Note: Children with sleep apnea do not all look sleepy during the day. Some may appear unusually active or have difficulty paying attention. These symptoms have other possible causes and do not establish a diagnosis on their own. (nhlbi.nih.gov)

If you observe repeated breathing pauses or gasping, contact your child’s medical provider promptly rather than waiting for a routine orthodontic appointment. (healthychildren.org)

Clinical Screening

What We Look for During a Dental Evaluation

We review your observations and examine findings relevant to dental development and referral decisions, including:

Dental Arches

The width and shape of the dental arches.

Teeth Fit

How the upper and lower teeth fit together.

Jaw Relationships

Structural jaw alignment and development.

Oral Resting Posture

Resting jaw and facial muscle patterns.

Tongue & Lip Posture

Tongue movement and lip seal posture.

Tonsillar Tissue

The appearance of visible tonsillar tissue.

These findings can help guide a referral, but neither a narrow palate nor the appearance of the tonsils tells us by itself whether a child has sleep apnea. A medical assessment is needed when symptoms raise concern. (aapd.org)
Multidisciplinary Perspective

Breathing Concerns Are Not Always Dental Problems

Enlarged tonsils or adenoids, nasal allergies, and other medical or anatomical factors can contribute to breathing difficulties.

A child who cannot breathe comfortably through the nose should not simply be instructed to keep the mouth closed. Possible barriers to nasal breathing need appropriate evaluation before therapy aims to establish a closed mouth resting posture. (asha.org)

We help families understand when to involve a pediatrician, an ear, nose, and throat specialist (ENT), or a sleep medicine physician.

Treatment Context

Where Orthodontic Treatment May Fit

An orthodontic problem should be evaluated on its own merits.

In selected children, orthodontic treatment may also be considered as one part of medical management for a diagnosed breathing disorder. For example, the American Thoracic Society conditionally supports consideration of orthodontic treatment for certain children with persistent sleep apnea after tonsil and adenoid surgery who have specific craniofacial findings. The certainty of evidence for that recommendation is very low. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Bioactivator & Appliance Distinction

This is not a recommendation for every child who snores, and it does not establish Bioactivators as a treatment for pediatric sleep apnea.

If dental treatment forms part of a coordinated plan, medical follow up remains important. A straighter bite or a parent’s impression of quieter sleep is not a substitute for the medical team’s assessment of treatment success. (aapd.org)

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers regarding pediatric sleep studies, dental scans, and appliances

Schedule a Consultation

Talk With Us About Your Concerns

Bring your questions about breathing, sleep, and dental development. We can explain what our examination shows and when medical evaluation is the appropriate next step.

608 473 3980

Call 608 473 3980 to request an orthodontic evaluation that includes discussion of airway and sleep concerns. (pediatricorthodontist.net)

Request an Evaluation