Braces or breathing trouble? study probes link between tooth extraction and sleep apnea in kids
NCT ID NCT04946201
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study looks at children aged 10-15 who need braces for prominent upper front teeth. Some will have upper premolars removed as part of treatment, others will not. Researchers will use sleep studies before and after treatment to see if the extractions increase the risk of obstructive sleep apnea. The goal is to help orthodontists make safer treatment decisions.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- upper premolar extraction
- What this could lead to
- If this study succeeds, it could help orthodontists understand whether removing upper premolars affects a child's risk of sleep apnea, leading to safer treatment choices.
- What could go wrong
- This trial is small (60 participants) and currently suspended, so results may not be reliable or generalizable. It only measures risk, not a treatment benefit.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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About 60 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Sep 2021
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
Registered orthodontic patients at the College of Dentistry and Turfland Dental Clinics.
- Ages
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10 to 15 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * 10-15 years old * registered orthodontic patients * able to undergo routine orthodontic care and are registered to obtain an orthodontic appliance in the future. * do not have a high care need * no known hypercapnia or hypoventilation * no known allergies or nose blockages * diagnosed as Class II Division I (=6mm of overjet) and bilateral Class II half cusp or unilateral Class II full cusp. Exclusion Criteria: * known hypercapnia or hypoventilation * patients with hypertrophic tonsils and adenoids * patients with allergies or nose blockages that interfere with breathing * patients who are not registered as orthodontic patients at research sites deemed acceptable to undergo routine orthodontic care
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
The full official record for this study. This one lists no contact details, but it is the first place any would appear.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky, 40506, United States
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