Introduction:

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in childhood has significant health consequences and is often associated with craniofacial and oral findings. Dentists are uniquely positioned to screen patients at risk. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of SDB risk in the pediatric population seen in a specialized dental clinic.

Methodology:

we conducted an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study. The Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ), in its validated Spanish version, was administered to a convenience sample of parents or guardians of pediatric patients (ages 2-17 years) attending the Institute of Advanced Dentistry in 2024 and 2025. A positive score according to the questionnaire criteria was considered "at risk for SDB." A symptom frequency analysis was performed.

Results:

85 valid questionnaires were completed. The risk frequency for SDB in the sample was 42.4 %. The individual symptoms most frequently reported by parents were that the child "doesn't seem to listen" (41.7 %), daytime mouth breathing (37.7 %), being "easily distracted" (37.7 %), and loud and frequent snoring (29.4 %).

Conclusion:

The risk frequency for sleep-disordered breathing in the pediatric population studied is high. These findings reinforce the fundamental role of the dentist as a first-line professional for the screening and timely referral of patients with suspected SDB, highlighting the need to integrate sleep assessment into routine dental practice.

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