-- Calgary parents seeking solutions for their children's sleep problems now have access to specialized orthodontic care. Impact Orthodontics is offering free airway-focused consultations for children and teens under 20, addressing concerns like snoring, mouth breathing, and potential sleep-disordered breathing.
For more information, visit https://impactortho.com/sleep-apnea-calgary/
While many families face challenges accessing medical care for airway concerns, orthodontists can provide valuable assessment and treatment options. Dr. Jennifer Smith of Impact Orthodontics holds privileges at the Alberta Children's Hospital, one of only two orthodontists in Calgary with this distinction. This connection facilitates collaboration with pediatricians, sleep physicians, ENTs, and oral surgeons for comprehensive patient care.
Persistent snoring in children may indicate obstructive sleep apnea, which disrupts sleep quality and potentially affects growth, immune function, and academic performance. Parents should also watch for signs such as daytime fatigue despite adequate sleep hours, difficulty concentrating, hyperactivity, chronic mouth breathing, or dry mouth in the morning.
Orthodontic interventions such as palatal expansion can widen the upper jaw, creating more space for breathing and potentially reducing symptoms. These treatments address the structural aspects of breathing difficulties by improving craniofacial development and airflow.
The Alberta Dental College specifies that dental specialists, rather than general dentists, should evaluate and address airway concerns in children. Impact Orthodontics' team examines jaw structure, breathing patterns, and dental development to identify potential breathing issues. Their assessment includes evaluation of jaw alignment, tonsil size, mouth breathing habits, dental crowding, and arch width.
"Orthodontics is just one component of effective airway treatment," notes Dr. Smith. "We work alongside medical professionals to ensure proper diagnosis and coordinated care. While orthodontists cannot diagnose sleep apnea—that requires a sleep study performed by a physician—we are trained to screen for airway concerns and recommend further evaluation when necessary."
This multidisciplinary approach is particularly important since treating airway issues early can provide lifelong benefits, including improved sleep quality, healthier jaw development, and prevention of complications in adulthood. For children with confirmed sleep apnea, treatment may involve a combination of orthodontic intervention, medical therapy, and in some cases, surgical consultation.
Impact Orthodontics, established in 2011, maintains locations in Midnapore (SE) and Britannia (SW). The practice is owned and led by three orthodontists who combine professional expertise with their perspectives as mothers.
Parents with questions about their child's breathing or sleep patterns can schedule a free consultation at https://impactortho.com
Contact Info:
Name: Dr. Jennifer Smith
Email: Send Email
Organization: Impact Orthodontics SW
Address: 4915 Elbow Drive SW Suite 206, Calgary, Alberta T2S 2L4, Canada
Website: https://impactortho.com/
Release ID: 89166617