Sleep apnea is so much more than snoring loudly at night. The condition causes you to stop breathing throughout the night while you sleep. Over time, without treatment, this can lead to serious health complications including an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, diabetes, and more. Finding a treatment option that works is incredibly important to protect one’s health. One of our sleep apnea treatment options available in Naples, FL at Massa Dental Center is the Vivos® System.
Naturally, our patients have lots of questions about Vivos®. To help you understand the treatment better, we’ve answered our patient’s top Vivos® questions below.
What is Vivos®?
Traditionally oral appliances or CPAP are prescribed to patients with sleep apnea. Although these treatments are effective, they don’t do anything to correct or improve airway obstruction – the underlying cause of sleep apnea. Vivos® is an appliance system that corrects airway obstruction.
How Does Vivos® Work?
Vivos® uses a daytime-nighttime appliance system (DNA) that gradually expands the palate to create enough room in the mouth and airway to allow for comfortable breathing at night. The Vivos® system not only expands the palate but also the upper jaw while also remodeling the bones to restructure the airway without surgery.
Most patients will need to wear their appliances for 10 to 12 hours per day to achieve their desired results.
How Long Do I Wear Vivos®?
Although every patient requires different treatment times, they all have one thing in common: you’re not required to wear Vivos® for life. Your treatment time is limited. Once the Vivos® appliances correct the underlying causes of your sleep-disordered breathing, you will not need to wear it every night anymore. Treatments typically take 9 to 18 months to complete.
Is it Comfortable?
Yes! The removable appliance is comfortable to wear and also nearly invisible, painless, noise-free, and easy to travel with. Overall, patients have a great experience wearing their Vivos® appliances.
Is it Right For Me?
Most patients with sleep-disordered breathing can benefit from the Vivos® appliance system. It’s most recommended for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea. It’s also an effective preventive for young children who demonstrate the early signs of developing crooked or crowded teeth.
To find out if Vivos® is the right treatment option for you, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Massa at Massa Dental Center. During your consultation, he will examine your airway, take measurements, a CBCT scan, and more to complete your Airway Intelligence Report. From there, he will create your specific treatment plan if it’s right for you.
If you’re ready to improve your sleep-disordered breathing with a treatment that corrects underlying issues, please schedule a consultation at Massa Dental Center today by calling (239) 597-7333. Our Naples sleep dentist is ready to help you wake up feeling refreshed again.
