Airway Dentistry for Children

We start by listening to what parents are noticing at home. Does your child snore? Breathe through their mouth? Wake frequently during the night? Seem unusually tired during the day? These details can help us determine whether a more focused airway evaluation is appropriate.

Our Mount Airy team emphasizes clear communication, prevention, and thoughtful care so families can better understand their child’s needs and available options.

What Is Airway Dentistry for Children?

Airway dentistry considers more than just the teeth. During an evaluation, we may look at how the tongue, jaw, palate, nasal breathing, and oral development work together.

Certain breathing or sleep-related concerns may be associated with oral and facial development, so identifying potential issues early can be helpful. Our goal is to evaluate potential contributors to your child’s symptoms and determine whether dental care, monitoring, or collaboration with another healthcare provider is appropriate.

When imaging can provide useful information, we may use technology such as our Planmeca low-dose CBCT scanner or iTero Digital Scanner to better understand your child’s anatomy and development.

How Is a Child’s Airway Evaluated?

A child’s airway evaluation may include a conversation about sleep and breathing habits, a physical examination, and imaging when clinically appropriate.

We may ask about:

• Snoring or noisy breathing
• Mouth breathing
• Sleep quality
• Allergies or chronic congestion
• Daytime tiredness or difficulty concentrating
• Relevant family or medical history

During the exam, we may also evaluate jaw movement, palate shape, oral development, and other anatomical features that could be relevant.

If additional imaging is useful, digital X-rays or CBCT imaging can provide more detailed information. Dr. Schenk will review the findings with you and explain possible next steps in clear, practical terms.

What Are the Signs of Airway Concerns in Children?

Signs of a possible airway concern in children can include frequent snoring, mouth breathing, chronic congestion, pauses in breathing during sleep, daytime tiredness, and difficulty concentrating.

Parents may want to schedule an evaluation if they notice:

• Loud or frequent snoring
• Pauses or interruptions in breathing during sleep
• Regular mouth breathing
• Chronic nasal congestion
• Restless or disrupted sleep
• Teeth grinding
• Daytime tiredness
• Difficulty concentrating

These symptoms can have many possible causes, so an evaluation can help determine whether further dental assessment or referral to another healthcare provider may be appropriate.

If you are concerned about your child’s breathing during sleep, discussing those symptoms with your child’s pediatrician may also be important.

How Are Airway Concerns in Children Treated?

Treatment depends on your child’s age, stage of growth, symptoms, and the suspected cause of the airway concern. Not every child needs the same type of treatment.

Depending on the situation, recommendations may include:

• At-home strategies and habit coaching
• Nasal hygiene
• Monitoring growth and development
• Office-based appliances
• Guided jaw expansion for appropriate patients
• Referral to an ENT, sleep medicine provider, pediatrician, or other specialist

For some growing children, orthodontic-style appliances may be considered when they are appropriate for the child’s development and treatment goals.

Our team coordinates with other healthcare providers when needed, so your child’s care can address more than one part of the problem.

What Happens During a Pediatric Airway Evaluation?

Your child’s visit is designed to be calm, straightforward, and age-appropriate.

We typically begin with questions about sleep, breathing, behavior, and symptoms you have noticed at home. Dr. Schenk will then perform a gentle examination and evaluate your child’s oral development.

If additional information is needed, we may recommend targeted digital X-rays, an iTero scan, or Planmeca low-dose CBCT imaging.

After the examination, Dr. Schenk will review the findings with you, explain what they may mean, and discuss appropriate options for monitoring, treatment, or referral. You will leave with clear next steps based on your child’s individual needs.

Why Can Early Airway Evaluation Be Helpful?

An early airway evaluation can help identify potential concerns while a child is still growing and developing.

When an issue is identified, earlier evaluation may provide more options for monitoring or treatment and can help determine whether another healthcare professional should be involved.

Our focus is on long-term development rather than simply addressing isolated symptoms. We use imaging only when it is expected to provide clinically useful information and discuss the reasoning behind each recommendation with parents.

Frequently Asked Questions About Airway Dentistry for Children

Is snoring normal for children?

Occasional snoring can happen, but frequent or loud snoring may be worth discussing with your child’s healthcare providers. If snoring is accompanied by mouth breathing, disrupted sleep, breathing pauses, or daytime tiredness, an evaluation may be appropriate.

Does airway dentistry involve orthodontics?

Sometimes. Certain children may benefit from orthodontic-style appliances or guided expansion, depending on their age, growth, anatomy, and individual needs. Other children may only need monitoring or referral to another provider.

What can cause airway concerns in children?

Airway and breathing concerns can have many possible causes, including nasal congestion, allergies, oral development, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, and other anatomical or medical factors. A dental airway evaluation may be one part of determining what is contributing to a child’s symptoms.

When should I schedule an airway evaluation for my child?

Consider scheduling an evaluation if your child frequently snores, breathes through the mouth, experiences disrupted sleep, or seems unusually tired during the day. An evaluation can help determine whether additional monitoring, dental care, or specialist involvement may be useful.

Children’s Airway Dentistry in Mount Airy

If your child frequently snores, breathes through the mouth, or experiences disrupted sleep, an airway evaluation may help identify whether further assessment is needed.

Call Schenk Family Dentistry to schedule an airway-focused evaluation with Dr. Sydney Schenk in Mount Airy. Our team will explain what we find, answer your questions, and help you understand the next steps for your child.