Kids Sleep-Disordered Breathing

Helping Children Breathe, Sleep, and Grow Their Best

At Three Rivers Dental, we believe healthy sleep sets the foundation for a child’s growth, behavior, and lifelong wellness. When a child struggles to breathe properly at night, it doesn’t just affect their rest—it can impact how they learn, focus, and develop.

Led by Dr. Evon Heaser, our dental team provides gentle, non-invasive treatments to help children overcome sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) using a variety of health techniques and interventions. Our goal is to help every child sleep better and grow into their healthiest self.

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What is Sleep-Disordered Breathing?

Sleep-disordered breathing refers to a range of conditions that disrupt normal breathing during sleep, from mild snoring to more serious issues like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

In children, even mild breathing interruptions can cause major effects on daytime behavior, learning, and growth. Because kids’ bodies and brains are developing rapidly, consistent oxygen flow during sleep is essential for physical and cognitive development.

Common Signs of Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Kids

Parents are often the first to notice symptoms such as:

Snoring or noisy breathing during sleep
Mouth breathing, especially at night
Restless sleep or frequent tossing and turning
Bedwetting (especially past early childhood)
Waking up grumpy, tired, or with dark under-eye circles
Hyperactivity or difficulty focusing during the day
Crowded teeth or narrow dental arches

If these signs sound familiar, your child may not be getting the deep, restorative sleep they need. Early treatment can make a lasting difference.

Our Role in Treating Kids’ Sleep-Disordered Breathing

At Three Rivers Dental, we focus on treating sleep-disordered breathing in children, not diagnosing it. We work closely with parents, physicians, and airway specialists to ensure every child receives appropriate care.

We may recommend a home-based SleepImage Ring evaluation, which allows families to gather important data about a child’s sleep quality and breathing patterns right from home. This information can help collaborating sleep physicians make or confirm a diagnosis and guide the next steps in treatment.

Once we have the medical insights, Dr. Evon Heaser creates a personalized dental therapy plan designed to help your child breathe better and sleep soundly.

Gentle, Growth-Friendly Treatments

Our child sleep treatments are designed around growth and airway development, helping to correct the underlying issues that cause poor sleep, not just mask the symptoms.

In collaboration with Toothpillow, we use custom oral appliances that guide jaw and airway growth while improving tongue posture and nasal breathing. These appliances are safe, comfortable, and designed to work naturally with your child’s growth.

This therapy involves a series of simple exercises that strengthen the tongue, lips, and facial muscles. When these muscles function correctly, they help promote nasal breathing and support healthy facial development.

In cases where a child’s upper jaw is narrow or constricted, fixed expansion appliances can help gently widen the palate. This increases nasal airflow and creates more room for both the teeth and airway, helping your child breathe more easily during sleep.

Each treatment plan is tailored to your child’s specific needs, because no two smiles or airways are the same.

Why Early Intervention Matters

When children don’t get enough oxygen during sleep, their bodies remain in a state of stress, which can affect everything from concentration and behavior to immune health and growth.

Untreated sleep-disordered breathing has been linked to:

Learning and attention difficulties
Hyperactivity or ADHD-like symptoms
Delayed growth
Bedwetting
Poor school performance
Emotional or behavioral challenges

By addressing the root cause early, often through airway development and muscle retaining, Dr. Heaser helps children avoid more complex problems later in life. This includes orthodontic crowding or long-term sleep apnea.

Help Your Child Get Better Restful Sleep

Restful sleep is the foundation of a happy, healthy childhood. If your child snores, breathes through their mouth, or struggles with restless sleep, we encourage you to schedule a consultation at Three Rivers Dental.

Call Three Rivers Dental today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Heaser today!