Sleep Apnea
Warning To Parents On The Potential Risks Of Orthodontic Treatment
When I was 13 years old, I had orthodontic treatment to correct my crowded teeth which involved removing four otherwise healthy bicuspids and fitting metal braces which pulled my front teeth backwards to close the resulting gaps and straighten my remaining teeth. This routine process involving premolar extraction and retraction orthodontics (PER) contributed to me developing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) by further reducing tongue space in my already undersized mouth with the result that my tongue is forced backwards into my airway during sleep.
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