Sleep Apnea Treatment Farmingdale, NY

Sleep apnea is a surprisingly common disorder that disrupts sleep and reduces oxygen levels. It is an underdiagnosed condition causing you to stop breathing periodically while sleeping.

Although you only stop breathing for a few seconds each time, the cumulative effect disrupts restful sleep. It prevents sufficient oxygen from getting to the brain.

The most common form of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea, caused by the airway being blocked when you are sleeping. As the muscles relax, the airway may be blocked entirely or partially when you are sleeping. You struggle to breathe, then wake up gasping.

This cycle prevents deep, restorative sleep and leaves you exhausted the next day. Some patients develop heart irregular heart rhythms and other serious health problems as a result of obstructive sleep apnea.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

The first indication of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is often snoring that is so loud it disturbs the sleep of others in your household, particularly your spouse or partner. These people often notice that you stop breathing at night, appearing to hold your breath briefly. Other symptoms indicating you may need sleep apnea treatment include:

• Daytime exhaustion
• Tossing and turning in your sleep
• Startling yourself when you wake throughout the night
• Waking with a dry mouth or scratchy throat
• Brain fog and concentration difficulty
• Morning headaches
• Night sweats
• Depression
• Acid reflux

Risks of Untreated Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea can lead to serious health problems, including heart arrhythmia, diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, and various heart issues, including congestive heart failure.

The brain fog and difficulty concentrating due to lack of restful sleep can affect your work performance and relationships. Problems operating machinery, cognitive lapses, memory impairment, and emotional issues such as excessive irritability have all been linked to sleep apnea.

Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

There are various treatment options for sleep apnea, including sleep apnea mouth guards and oral appliances. However, until recently, the gold standard for treating sleep apnea was a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine.

The CPAP uses positive air pressure to ensure your airway stays open to prevent lapses in breathing. However, many patients never get comfortable with the mask and hose providing the pressurized air. They find that the solution keeps them awake as much as the apnea and soon quit using it.

Surgery is sometimes performed on patients with severe sleep apnea to open the airway, but this is invasive, painful, and has a success rate of only about 50% over the long term.

Recently a CPAP alternative was introduced to doctors; the FDA approved Vivos DNA system. The Vivos Daytime Nighttime Appliance (DNA) is an innovative oral mouthpiece custom-designed for each patient to correct anatomical problems that cause a blocked airway when sleeping. This non-surgical CPAP alternative dramatically reduces or eliminates OSA symptoms.

The Vivos Method and How It Works

Vivos addresses the root cause of sleep apnea rather than simply masking the symptoms. In most patients with OSA, the upper or lower jaw did not develop properly, compromising the upper airway. When awake, this is not a problem, but the airway can collapse when your muscles relax as you sleep.

Vivos corrects this abnormality that causes airway collapse. A daytime-nighttime (DNA) appliance applies mild pressure to the roof of the mouth, gently expanding the palate. Some patients also use a nighttime repositioning appliance to realign the lower jaw properly.

After a few months, you will begin to experience more restful sleep because your airway is no longer obstructed. Most patients use the Vivos method as a CPAP alternative for one or two years. At the end of treatment, they no longer have to use any oral appliances or CPAP machines.

Who Is a Candidate for Vivos?

Anyone experiencing mild to moderate sleep apnea is a good candidate for Vivos treatment, particularly if they are looking for a more comfortable CPAP alternative. You can use the Vivos protocol at any age.

Sleep Apnea and Vivos Frequently Asked Questions

Will Vivos work for me?

Most patients respond well to Vivos, as it gently opens the airway so you can freely breathe when sleeping. However, Dr. Chrisphonte will do a complete evaluation of your oral cavity, teeth, and jawline to determine whether Vivos is the appropriate sleep apnea treatment for you.

How soon will I see the results?

Once you start wearing your Vivos appliance, you could begin to get a better night’s sleep within a few weeks to a few months. Most patients report that their obstructive sleep apnea is gone within a year or two.

Are Vivos oral appliances painful?

Wearing a Vivos appliance is more comfortable than wearing a CPAP machine. It fits entirely in the mouth and does not cover the nose or throat. As you progress and the mouthpiece is adjusted to apply gentle pressure, you may occasionally experience a mild ache for a day or two, but this resolves itself quickly. Many patients say they forget they are wearing the appliance at night, as it fits and feels like a dental retainer.

How Much Does the Vivos Method Cost?

Because the oral appliance is designed specifically for your mouth and airway issues, the cost varies from patient to patient. Dr. Chrisphonte evaluates each patient, reviewing medical history, sleep apnea patterns, and the condition of the oral cavity and teeth to give you an accurate quote.

Can Any Dentist Fit with Me with a Vivos Sleep Apnea Appliance?

No, Vivos is a new and exciting leap forward in treating the cause rather than the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. Most dentists are not yet familiar with this alternative to more traditional mouth guards. Dr. Chrisphonte has undergone extensive training through Vivos, focusing on craniofacial sleep medicine and treatment options, including the Vivos DNA appliance.

If you have been diagnosed with or suspect you have obstructive sleep apnea, contact Genuine Smiles at Genuine Smiles Phone Number (516) 694-4000 to schedule an evaluation. Dr. Chrisphonte can help you decide whether the Vivos DNA method is the right sleep apnea treatment for you.