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How did this happen?
Mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnea is often the result of underdeveloped upper and lower jaws. Today more than 80% of adults have orthodontic intervention to correct crooked or crowded teeth and a large majority have had their wisdom teeth extracted because their jaws fail to properly develop. Underdeveloped jaws can create an obstruction in the airway.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that happens when a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep. People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night.
The Dangers of Untreated Sleep Apnea
If it’s not treated, sleep apnea can cause a number of health problems, including:
- hypertension (high blood pressure)
- stroke
- cardiomyopathy (enlargement of the muscle tissue of the heart)
- heart failure
- diabetes
- heart attacks
- job impairment
- work-related accidents
- motor vehicle crashes
- underachievement in school in children and adolescents
What causes sleep apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses during sleep. Central sleep apnea is usually observed in patients with central nervous system dysfunction, such as following a stroke or in patients with neuromuscular diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease). It is also common in patients with heart failure and other forms of heart, kidney or lung disease.
What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?
The most common signs and symptoms of OSA include:
- Snoring.
- Daytime sleepiness or fatigue.
- Restlessness during sleep, frequent nighttime awakenings.
- Sudden awakenings with a sensation of gasping or choking.
- Dry mouth or sore throat upon awakening.
- Cognitive impairment, such as trouble concentrating, forgetfulness or irritability.
- Mood disturbances (depression or anxiety).
- Night sweats.
- Frequent nighttime urination.
- Sexual dysfunction.
- Headaches.
Symptoms in children may not be as obvious and include:
- Poor school performance.
- Sluggishness or sleepiness, often misinterpreted as laziness in the classroom.
- Daytime mouth breathing and swallowing difficulty.
- Inward movement of the ribcage when inhaling.
- Unusual sleeping positions, such as sleeping on the hands and knees, or with the neck hyper-extended.
- Excessive sweating at night.
- Learning and behavioral disorders (hyperactivity, attention deficits).
- Bedwetting.
Enter the Vivos System
An important breakthrough in sleep and airway medicine
More than one billion people suffer from mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnea. We are here to help.
The Vivos System, available through Dental Matrix, is an advanced therapeutic protocol, which combines the use of oral appliance specifications developed by Vivos and prescribed by specially-trained dentists like Dr. Quinn Yu in cooperation with their medical colleagues.
The Vivos System is used to treat mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnea, snoring and sleep disordered breathing. Additionally, Vivos is an FDA Specifications Developer for a series of Class I and Class II medical devices which are often prescribed for adjunctive therapies during the course of treatment.
How It Works
Initial Consultation
During your initial consultation, you will undergo a variety of diagnostic procedures including a Head + Neck Examination, CBCT Scan, Photos + Measurements.
Comprehensive Diagnosis
It is important to work with your multidisciplinary healthcare team to arrive at an accurate diagnosis.
Airway Intelligence Report
Once you have completed diagnostic procedures and required tests, we will compile your Airway Intelligence Report which includes Treatment Goals, & Your Custom Treatment Plan.
Life During Treatment
Most treatment plans include lots of healthy sleep and good nutrition for a period of between twelve and twenty-four months. You are unique and your custom treatment plan will be tailored to your particular condition.
Everyone deserves excellent dentistry with a warm, respectful human touch. At Dental Matrix, we believe that prevention and education is key to achieving great oral health. This is why we work with each and every patient to develop and establish a customized dental hygiene plan that incorporates dental exams, digital x-rays, and thorough dental cleanings. If any additional treatments or procedures are needed, we will always thoroughly explain your options and provide professional advice. We want to empower you to make the most informed decision for your well-being.
If you have any questions regarding the general dental services we provide, please call our office at (909) 525-2525.
Our friendly, courteous staff are ready to answer any questions you may have if you contact us. To save time you can fill out your new patient registration forms online by clicking the button below. We also offer convenient Care Credit Financing options below. We look forward to seeing you in our office!
