Vivos Oral Appliance for Sleep Apnea Portland

Address the Root Cause of Poor Sleep

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when tissues in the upper airway block the free flow of oxygen. There are quite a few different reasons why that can happen, and in many instances, the problem is related to the development and/or positioning of the upper and lower jaws. The Vivos oral appliance for sleep apnea has the goal of correcting those imbalances and producing better rest for patients. Continue reading below to learn more, or contact our Portland, OR, office directly to request a consultation.

Why Choose Evolution Dental for Vivos Oral Appliance for Sleep Apnea?

  • Address the Cause of OSA, Not Just Symptoms
  • Not Available at All Dental Practices
  • Reduce or Eliminate the Need for Other OSA Treatments

What Is the Vivos Oral Appliance?

Person placing orthodontic appliance in their mouth

The Vivos system includes a few different oral appliances, which can be used to affect the development or positioning of the upper and lower jaws. For example, if you have maxillary hypoplasia (underdevelopment of the upper jaw), a palate expander can widen that area and allow for better airflow. If you have mandibular retrognathia (a lower jaw that is positioned too far back), Vivos may be used to train it to rest in a more forward position.

Vivos appliances look similar to traditional orthodontic appliances and offer an effective, non-surgical way to address the underlying cause of certain nighttime breathing issues.

How Does the Vivos Oral Appliance Treat Sleep Apnea?

Woman sleeping peacefully on her side

If you are a candidate for the Vivos system, we will provide you with custom appliances and provide instructions for their use. They do not need to be worn 24 hours a day (usually 8 – 10 hours or 12 – 16 hours, depending on the specific appliance), so you can feel free to remove them for meals, oral hygiene, and other important activities. Total treatment time may be 1 – 2 years. Throughout that time, you may notice significant improvements in nighttime breathing.

Vivos usually works best for kids because their jaws are still developing. However, it is also highly effective for some adults, especially when it is used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for sleep apnea.

Benefits of the Vivos Oral Appliance

Man waking up after good night of sleep

Some top benefits of the Vivos system include:

  • Limited treatment time: Some OSA treatments require lifelong use. Vivos, on the other hand, is intended to be used only for a certain period of time.
  • Effective: For some patients Vivos lets them stop using other OSA treatments. For others, it allows them to use a lower CPAP setting. It can produce results for individuals with mild, moderate, or even severe OSA.
  • Comfortable: Most patients find the appliances easy to use throughout the day.
  • Secondary relief of TMJ disorder: By promoting healthier positioning of the jaws, the Vivos system might relieve stress on the jaw joints (TMJs) and reduce symptoms like headaches, sore facial muscles, and more.