Breathing, Oxygenation & Early Development: -The Health of Your Growing Patients & Affects of Mask Wearing T By Chris Baker, RN, DMD Breathing: Oxygenation & Outstanding Health versus an Acidotic & Poor Physiology of Body Systems Over the last decade or so, it has been most rewarding to see the concern and learning in the area of oxygenation in Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Sleep-Disordered Breathing (SDB). It is a whole inter-action, interplay and communica-tion about the simple act of breath-ing/respiration, and the entire organism we call the human body. Why do I say it is rewarding? Because for more than 30 years as a pediatric dentist and orthodontist, my passion has been this very concern, this very topic: to evalu-ate, diagnose, communicate to the parent and treat as needed (includ-ing referral if appropriate) with every single patient I see. Because, without outstanding oxygenation through healthy nasal respiration, the child has risk of stunted developmental markers, neurological issues such as Atten-tion Deficit Disorder (ADD), Atten-tion Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other behavioral issues as well as enuresis, learning disabili-ties, lower IQ and school perfor-mance di ffi culties, lessened beauty, stunted and dysfunctional immune system, adverse growth of jaws and tooth positions, dysfunctional occlusion, higher risk of decay, and worsening/complexifying medical conditions. This includes hyperten-sion 1 and chronic diseases: cardio-vascular, diabetes, auto-immune diseases, and many others, over their lifetime. 2,3 Do parents know the importance of nasal breathing and of oxygena-tion? Do children learn about the key driver of health -oxygenation? Do children take health classes anymore? In researching this ques-tion, I discovered that Dr. David Birch said health education is “not taught the way it should be 4 …and that typically, across the U.S., health education is taught in middle school or high school for a here are two areas of impact to our child patients and their parents, that are too often overlooked by us as doctors. And, let me add, pediatric physicians quite often overlook these same areas as well. They are 1) the functional airway and breathing and 2) the development of the self as part of human culture, all based on relationship. As dental professionals to dentists, we have great ability to impact our child patients in both areas. As a doctor responsible for the care and work toward health in the oral environment, this article will have you consider these two areas in your child patients’ devel-opment, and what your responsi-bilities entail. Your care of these patients can become absolutely outstanding as your awareness, understanding and knowledge truly grow in the wide-reaching and amazing area of the oral cavity. Let’s look at these. 18 Spring 2021 JAOS
Journal of the American Orthodontic Society Spring 2021: Page 18
