Sleep Apnea Treatment
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VIVOS Treatment for Sleep Apnea in Bowling Green, KY
If you have trouble sleeping, snore loudly, or wake often feeling unrested, you may have sleep apnea. This disorder is increasingly common and is estimated to affect 10% to 30% of adults in the United States, many of which are undiagnosed. Read on to learn how you can permanently treat sleep apnea.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that happens when your breathing is interrupted during sleep. People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing several times during their sleep, and these pauses in breathing can last for a few seconds to minutes.
There are two types of sleep apnea:
- Obstructive sleep apnea: This is the most common type and occurs when there’s a complete or partial upper airway blockage during sleep.
- Central sleep apnea: This is related to the central nervous system function. Central sleep apnea happens when the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe due to instability in the respiratory control center.
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
There are several symptoms of sleep apnea:
- Loud snoring
- Gasping or choking during sleep
- Awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat
- Morning headaches
- Frequent nighttime awakenings or restlessness during sleep
- Excessive daytime sleepiness or fatigue
- Trouble concentrating, irritability, or forgetfulness
How are Sleep Apnea and Dentistry Related?
Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by a blockage of the airway, which is usually caused by an underdeveloped jaw and oral cavity. This can lead to an undersized airway where the tongue is more prone to fall into the back of the throat, causing the airway to collapse, especially at night. Sleep apnea often results in tooth grinding (bruxism), dry mouth, worn tooth surfaces, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, and even a spike in cavities caused by increased bacteria.
What is VIVOS Treatment for Sleep Apnea?
Traditionally patients with sleep apnea are prescribed CPAP or oral appliances to treat their sleep apnea symptoms. While these treatments are highly effective, they don’t do anything to correct the underlying causes of sleep apnea. Fortunately, there’s an innovative alternative treatment to CPAP known as the VIVOS system.
VIVOS is a revolutionary, non-surgical dental treatment for sleep apnea that utilizes a proprietary combination of oral appliances to correct the underlying causes of airway obstruction. You might be a good candidate for VIVOS treatment if you’ve been diagnosed by a sleep physician with a mild/moderate case and can be compliant to wear an appliance. However, if your sleep physician recommends CPAP, you should consider being compliant.
How Does VIVOS Work?
VIVOS uses a daytime-nighttime appliance (DNA) system to gradually apply gentle pressure to the palate to expand it and a mandibular repositioning-nighttime appliance (mRNA) to train the lower jaw to rest in its proper position. This non-invasive treatment effectively remodels and repositions the jawbone, enlarging the airway and creating more room in the mouth, nasal passageways, and throat to promote the free flow of air. VIVOS treatment usually takes 12–18 months to complete, after which you should be able to sleep soundly every night without needing further intervention.
How is VIVOS Different from Other Sleep Apnea Treatments?
Unlike other non-surgical sleep apnea treatments, VIVOS:
- Remodels the entire dental arch
- Reshapes of bone and the maxillofacial occlusion over time
- Creates a lasting space for airways to remain open
- Offers a custom-fit design that’s comfortable and doesn’t damage jaws or teeth
What Happens if Sleep Apnea is Left Untreated?
Several conditions can develop as a result of untreated sleep apnea:
- Cavities
- Gum disease
- Stroke
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
- Arrhythmias
- Pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes
- Worn tooth surfaces
- Liver problems
- Heart attacks
- Cardiomyopathy (enlargement of the muscle tissue of the heart),
- Type 2 diabetes
- Heart failure
- Glaucoma
Sleep Apnea Treatment Cost
Sleep apnea treatment cost varies depending on your specific treatment plan, but we’ll provide you with a custom estimate during your initial consultation.
VIVOS Dentist in Bowling Green, KY
If you’ve been diagnosed with mild to moderate sleep apnea, and are looking for a permanent way to address it, VIVOS from Cox Family Dentistry may be the best option. Contact us today to schedule your personalized sleep apnea consultation in Bowling Green!