Much conflicting information exists about the portrayed association between altered craniofacial form and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Such association is critical to justify the potential benefits of an orthodontic intervention on SDB cases. Being SDB is a complex multifactorial disease, it is not surprising that clear-cut, straightforward association is consistently demonstrated. This presentation will attempt to provide an updated analysis of the latest research in this area. It is becoming more evident that only a subgroup of children with SDB are more likely to clinically benefit in a significant way from orthodontic interventions as part of an interdisciplinary management approach to SDB. Clinical phenotyping of such a group is a critical step to more consistently deliver orthodontic care that will benefit some SDB children.
Learning Objectives:
After this session, attendees will be able to:
Better understand the conflicting available information about the portrayed association between altered craniofacial form and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB).
Recognize the current management pathway for children diagnosed with SDB and where orthodontics may play a role.
Understand that clinical phenotyping is likely a crucial step in increasing the predictability of orthodontic interventions in children diagnosed with SDB.
