WHAT IS SNORING?
Snoring is a sound caused by the vibration of soft tissues while breathing during sleep. The situation that causes vibration is the relaxation of respiratory muscles and soft tissues during sleep and some narrowing of the airway. As air passes through a narrower space, it causes vibration in the surrounding tissues. In general, in simple snoring cases, especially when lying on the back, the tongue slides backwards and narrows the airway. In such a case, snoring often disappears or decreases when the patient moves to the side-lying position.
In general, simple measures such as losing weight, not drinking alcoholic beverages before bedtime, applying nasal strips, sleeping with a high pillow, etc. are useful in cases of simple snoring. . Additionally, patients may be advised to lie down with a tennis ball-sized ball tied to their back to prevent them from lying on their back.
One of the most important reasons for snoring is that the lower jaw is positioned backwards, thus the tongue and soft palate are positioned further back, narrowing the airway. This stenosis can also be observed in cephalometric films routinely taken by orthodontists. Snoring due to lower back retardation can also be seen in childhood, and sleep apnea may also develop in children. Sleep apnea is different from simple snoring and is more advanced. The narrowing of the airway progresses to obstruction during sleep, and the patient's breathing stops for at least 10 seconds during this period. This situation may recur frequently during the night. Of course, families should not panic about their snoring children and should take them to an ENT specialist and an orthodontist for jaw problems. Sleep apnea is a serious condition and it cannot be said that every child who snores has it. This snoring may also be a simple snoring enhanced by mouth breathing. Definitive diagnosis is made in sleep laboratories.
There are various surgical techniques applied by medical doctors in severe cases, from positive air pressure (CPAP) therapy to the soft palate and epiglottis.
What we need to do is, first of all, if there is lower jaw retardation in children of growth and development age, it must be intervened in time before growth ends. In such cases, orthodontists can direct growth by using devices that accelerate and increase the forward growth of the lower jaw.
In simple snoring cases where growth and development have ended, orthodontists can make intraoral devices that move the lower jaw forward and prevent the tongue from moving backwards. This device is a device that the patient puts on before going to bed and removes in the morning.
Again, in cases whose growth and development has stopped, jaw surgeries (orthognathic surgeries) in which the lower jaw or both jaws are moved forward are also among the treatment options. Of course, it is necessary to diagnose the patient correctly and consult medical doctors about this situation.
Read: 0
