Sleep Apnea In Lehi, UT

Sleep apnea is a condition in which you stop breathing multiple times throughout the night. Typically, the pauses in breathing last between ten to twenty seconds each, but they can occur as infrequently as once or twice per hour or as often as several hundred times per night. Most patients don’t realize that their breathing has stopped or that they are choking on excess air until the next morning when they wake up feeling exhausted.

If you have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, your doctor will likely recommend that you use a CPAP machine while sleeping. This mask fits over your mouth and nose and gently blows air into your airways to keep them from collapsing while you sleep. Another option is a custom-made oral appliance that repositions your lower jaw slightly forward to keep your airway open through the night.

However, if neither of these options seems feasible for you, there are other options available to treat your condition.

Treat Sleep Apnea With Vivos

Vivos is a non-surgical method that addresses sleep apnea by treating the anatomical abnormalities that cause OSA. It is considered a permanent solution to OSA and an alternative to the inconvenient and uncomfortable CPAP device. It works to address the conditions of maxillary hypoplasia (underdevelopment of the upper jaw) and mandibular retrognathia (a lower jaw that is set too far back), the prime culprit behind OSA. Vivos uses a daytime-nighttime appliance (DNA) system to exert gentle pressure on the palate, slowly expanding it to rectify maxillary hypoplasia. It also uses a mandibular repositioning-nighttime appliance (mRNA) that trains the lower jaw to rest in its proper position. 

The Treatment Process

Patients who are eligible for the Vivos system will need to wear custom oral appliances for 12-24 months under the guidance of your dentist as an alternative to CPAP. These oral appliances are made after a series of in-depth medical consultations and diagnostic tests like a home sleep study, a CBCT scan, a head and neck examination, etc. Your dentist will adjust your appliances and monitor your progress throughout the treatment.

Benefits of Vivos

The use of the Vivos system to address OSA offers considerable benefits, including:

• The appliances are virtually invisible and comfortable to wear
• The Vivos system is a non-surgical and extremely low-risk treatment
• The patient will get the results within the first few days or weeks of treatment
• Vivos permanently addresses anatomical abnormalities of the jaw, one of the main causes of OSA

At Floss Family Dentistry, we offer high-quality dental services using advanced technology. To learn more or to schedule an appointment with us, call us at (801) 610-7200 or visit our dental office at 2183 West Main Street, Suite 301A, Lehi, UT 84043.