During his regular checkup, Yuval is using a device called the Klearway appliance to help correct his jaw's alignment.
Researchers are now testing its effectiveness in helping children who suffer from a major sleep problem called sleep apnea.
"Sleep apnea is common in children," says Dr. Alan Lowe of the UBC School of Dentistry. "Perhaps up to 10 per cent of children between the ages of two and 12 exhibit this disease."
Sleep apnea occurs when a person falls asleep and the muscles holding their airway open relax, which then blocks the airway.
People who suffer from it are often woken up throughout the night gasping for air.
The Kearway device helps reposition the jaw forward to avoid that from happening.
"When the lower jaw goes forward, the tongue goes forward proportionately and opens the airway and once the airway is opened, that obstruction is prevented," says Dr. Lo.
The sleep disorder can have serious consequences for children, including decreased learning skills, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), social problems and falling asleep in school.
"It can also affect growth, so getting the airway open has an effect on a lot of parameters in growing children," says Dr. Lowe. "In that sense it's very exciting."
Dr. Lowe says the preliminary results are better than expected.
"The tooth movement is very fast, the change in how the upper jaw relates to the lower jaw is quite impressive."
Some patients have had their jaws move substantially in just seven months.
"That's quite a remarkable change," Dr. Lowe says.
Because children are still growing, the device can actually correct a child's jaw permanently -- essentially curing the sleep apnea.
But the device is not for everyone, and not all children who snore suffer from sleep apnea.
A definitive sleep apnea diagnosis must be made before possible treatments can be determined.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Dr. Rhonda Low
