For pediatric sleep apnea, Mitchell Levine says treating it is about “redirecting the growth processes” of the jaw to improve the effectiveness of the airway during sleep, reports Commercial Appeal.
“I think what we’re realizing is in children’s sleep problems and adults’ sleep problems is the manifestations of them seem to be a bit different,” he said.
Repositioning the jaw is effective when the child is 8 or 9 years old and growing fast. Before that age range, oral devices come in handy, because structural changes to growth aren’t as effective at 5 or 6 years old, Levine said.
