Five Reasons Why Pediatric Airway Evaluations are Important to Your Child’s Health

by | Mar 1, 2025 | General Dentistry

Pediatric airway evaluations.

Why should your child have a pediatric airway evaluation?

Having unobstructed airways can help not only with your child’s breathing, but it can help with how well they sleep too. That is why getting periodic pediatric airway evaluations is so important to their growth. Dr. May at Metro East Dental Care has received extensive training in pediatric airways, and his expertise makes him one of the leading specialists in the Granite City area. Read on to learn more about why pediatric airway evaluations are an important part of your child’s dental and overall health as they continue to grow and develop.

Early Identification of Breathing Obstruction

Early detection and identification are key to diagnosing any issue, especially in a child. A pediatric airway evaluation is a way for a medical professional to examine a child’s airway to make sure it is clear of any obstacles. Breathing obstructions can cause a change in your child’s sleep, behavior, and even their physical development.

If your child suffers from allergies, it can cause inflammation in their airways and affect their breathing. Congenital factors can also play a role in a child’s airways.

Your child should be evaluated for pediatric airway obstruction because any sort of obstruction can cause your child to snore or breathe from their mouth, which can cause a restless night’s sleep. And we all know that a good night’s rest is crucial for a child’s development and well-being.

Enhancement of Facial Growth and Development

A restricted airway can lead to issues involving facial skeletal development and dental alignment. This means that the bones in your child’s face and mouth could shift slightly, throwing off the alignment of their jaw and teeth, which can lead to dental issues later in life.

If Dr. May discovers an issue with your child’s jawbone structure early on, he can take preventative measures. One of those ways is with a palatal expander. This is a dental device that fits on the roof of the mouth and gently applies pressure to the jaw to expand it and make room for adult teeth, preventing them from crowding. The palatal expander is affixed with a screw that is regularly tightened to apply more pressure on the jaw. If the lower jaw needs to be adjusted, the dental device is then called a mandibular expander, and it works in the same way as a palatal expander.

Improvement in Sleep Quality

A good night’s sleep is important for everyone, and studies have shown that children who get a proper night’s rest do better in school. How long should your child be sleeping each night? According to the Cleveland Clinic, here are some suggestions.

  • Under 12 months: 12–16 hours per day; can include naps
  • 12–24 months: 11–14 hours per day; can include naps
  • Preschoolers (3–5 years of age): 10–13 hours per day; can include naps
  • Grade-schoolers (6–12 years of age): 9–12 hours per day
  • Teens (13–18 years of age): 8–10 hours per day

Studies have shown that children who get the proper amount of sleep have a better overall quality of life and show improvements in the following areas.

  • Attention
  • Behavior
  • Emotional Regulation
  • Learning
  • Memory
  • Mental Health
  • Physical Health

The same studies also show that children who get proper sleep do better academically compared with those who aren’t getting enough sleep at night.

Prevention of Future Health Complications

Another reason to get your child’s airway evaluated is because of the potential long-term health complications that can arise with an untreated airway problem. Those who suffer from obstructed airways are at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease and developmental delays. The lack of enough oxygen getting into the bloodstream can cause these sorts of compilations over time.

Through routine pediatric airway evaluations, you can make sure your child’s airways are free of obstructions that could have harmful impacts later on in life.

Use of a Collaborative Care Approach

Dr. May has extensive training in performing pediatric airway evaluations, but he also relies on other professionals in the field to help with a proper diagnosis. This can involve other dentists, orthodontists, and ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists. With collaborative efforts of a diverse team, a comprehensive care plan can be created, centered around your child’s obstructive airway, leading to optimal results early on.

Schedule a check-up at Metro East Dental Care.

Biannual visits to see Dr. May at Granite City’s Metro East Dental Care are important for your child’s oral health. These visits allow our dental team to evaluate your child’s oral health, chart their dental development, and give their teeth a thorough cleaning. If you haven’t seen us in a while, contact us today to schedule an appointment.