1. Sleep-disordered breathing in children seeking orthodontic care-an Australian perspective.
- Author
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Wellham A, Kim C, Kwok SS, Lee R, Naoum S, Razza JM, and Goonewardene MS
- Subjects
- Male, Female, Child, Humans, Retrospective Studies, Australia, Prevalence, Quality of Life, Sleep Apnea Syndromes epidemiology
- Abstract
Background: The prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing in children is underestimated due to impediments in detection and diagnosis. Consequently, delayed management may affect the quality of life and the growth and development of a child. Due to their patient demographic, orthodontists are optimally positioned to identify those at risk of sleep-disordered breathing and make referrals for investigation and management. This study aims to determine the prevalence of children at risk of sleep-disordered breathing in an Australian orthodontic population., Methods: A 1-year retrospective study was conducted in an urban Western Australian private orthodontic practice with two branches in similar socioeconomic demographics. The responses of new patients to a modified paediatric sleep questionnaire and standard medical history form were recorded., Results: In 1209 patients (4-18 years), 7.3% were at risk of sleep-disordered breathing. An association between sex and the potential risk of sleep-disordered breathing was found with 11% of males at risk of sleep-disordered breathing compared to 7% of females (P = 0.012)., Conclusions: The relatively high prevalence of children at risk of sleep-disordered breathing presenting for orthodontic care presents an opportunity to identify at-risk individuals through routine use of the paediatric sleep questionnaire. This would facilitate early referral for diagnosis and management of sleep-disordered breathing., (© 2022 The Authors. Australian Dental Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australian Dental Association.)
- Published
- 2023
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