Is “Watch and Wait” Always the Best Approach for Your Child’s Breathing and Sleep?
Many parents are told their child will simply grow out of mouth breathing, snoring or restless sleep.
Sometimes early patterns are worth paying attention to while children are still developing.
If you’ve noticed changes in your child’s breathing, sleep, energy or dental development, an early dental assessment may help clarify whether simple monitoring is appropriate, or whether further evaluation could be helpful.
Our role is to support healthy growth by identifying patterns that may influence how children breathe, sleep and develop over time.
Signs Parents May Notice
- Mouth breathing during the day or night
- Snoring or noisy breathing during sleep
- Restless sleep or frequent waking
- Teeth grinding
- Ongoing thumb sucking habits
- Crowding developing earlier than expected
- Crowded teeth
- Enlarged tonsils or adenoids (identified by a medical professional)
These signs do not always mean treatment is needed.
However, they can be useful indicators to monitor as your child grows.
The Approach.
At Dr Levi's, we look at the connection between how our jaw development influences our airway development. When a child's dental arches and jaw are underdeveloped, it may impact the way they breathe, particularly during sleep. Addressing that growth and development early may help alleviate symptoms now and in the future.
We utilise a system of biomimetic oral appliances and therapies - tools designed to work with the body's natural growth processes to support the development of the jaw and dental arches. As this development progresses, some children may experience improvements in the symptoms that brought their parents to us in the first place.
Every child is different, and we take the time to understand your child's individual situation before recommending any course of care.
How does it work?
After years of research Professor David Singh DMD PhD DDSc, created the Vivos System biomimetic (meaning to mimic nature) oral appliances which have helped more than 14,000 patients in the USA.
The Vivos System consists of multi-disciplinary therapeutic protocols and oral appliances which increase and enhance the airway.
Dr Levi is working with children who struggle to breathe optimally when they sleep by using this system of biomimetic appliances and therapies. These treatments promote natural growth and development to expand the dental arches and help the upper and lower jaws to grow. As these areas develop more fully, the child’s airway may widen and expand which may help to improve the quality of breathing a child experiences. When children can breathe optimally whilst sleeping, they can grow, learn and blossom into their full potential.
At Dr Levi's, we provide dental solutions that are backed by science and research, and trusted by more than 14,000 families.
Our team are passionate about improving the quality of your child’s breathing and sleep to maximise emotional, physical and mental growth and development.
Dr Mark Levi (Dentist)
Craniofacial Dental
Sleep Medicine
Meet the Team
Sam
Clinic Manager
Tammy
Clinical Administrator
Wouroud
Bachelor of Oral Health
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist
Evie
Junior Clinical Administrator
Kristy
Patient Education Team
Tarik
Patient Education Team