Snoring and OSA are caused by a collapsed tongue which blocks the airway during sleep and are associated with small jaws.

This tongue collapse occurs when a state of deep sleep is reached and the body and tongue loses muscle tone, with the collapsed tongue falling back and obstructing the airway.

There are other factors that can contribute to snoring and OSA, most commonly excess weight or obesity, but can also include allergies or chronic upper airway infections.

The strained intake of air that occurs with snoring can also cause inflammation of the tonsils or adenoids, leading them to swell and further exacerbate airway obstruction.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a sleep disorder where your teen's breathing is partially or completely blocked repeatedly during sleep.

This condition is due to narrowing or blockage of the upper airway during sleep and the repeated stoppages in breathing can last anywhere from a few seconds to a number of minutes. 

The size of a teen’s jaw is often the primary cause of snoring and sleep apnea, which is why it’s important to understand that any form of orthodontic treatment will do nothing to improve breathing. 

Orthodontic treatment alone in a teenager with small jaws is capable of improving the alignment of their teeth but won't address the long-term effects of snoring and sleep apnea.

The developing brain of a teenager needs between 8 and 10 hours of quality sleep every night.

The effects of chronic (ongoing) sleep deprivation due to impaired breathing, snoring or Obstructive Sleep Apnoea may include:

• Concentration difficulties
• Mentally ‘drifting off’ in class
• Shortened attention span
• Memory impairment
• Poor decision making
• Lack of enthusiasm
• Moodiness and aggression
• Depression
• Risk-taking behaviour
• Slower physical reflexes
• Clumsiness, which may result in physical injuries
• Reduced sporting performance
• Reduced academic performance
• Increased number of ‘sick days’ from school because of tiredness
• Truancy.

Jaw surgery treats the cause of snoring and OSA, not just the many serious conditions they may cause.

There are many options available to teenagers with snoring issues, but the most effective treatment is to correct the central cause of Sleep Apnea through jaw correction.

In teenagers, the best approach is often through IMDO surgery which increases the size and volume of the jaws. This permanently opens the airway to enable normal and healthy breathing.

This leads to normal sleeping patterns, superior exercise tolerance, improved mental and emotional wellness, and better overall health both now and as your teenager progresses through to adulthood.