Sleep affects every part of life — energy, mood, cognitive function, and long-term health. When snoring, pauses in breathing, or restless nights interfere with restorative sleep, addressing the root cause of airway restriction becomes essential. Vivos® Sleep Appliances offer a non-surgical, dentistry-led pathway to improving airway form and function. These devices are part of a structured protocol designed to create lasting structural changes that support easier breathing during sleep.
Unlike short-term symptom management, Vivos® therapy is centered on gradual remodeling of the oral and facial structures that influence airway space. The approach combines customized oral appliances with a program of monitoring and adjustments, delivered under the supervision of a trained dental clinician. For many patients, this combination can reduce nighttime airway obstruction and the daytime effects of poor sleep.
Because Vivos® therapy bridges dentistry and airway medicine, it’s especially appropriate for people who want an alternative to continuous device therapy or are seeking a long-term, anatomical solution. Candidates range from adults with mild to moderate sleep-disordered breathing to children whose developing jaws can benefit from guided changes that support healthier breathing mechanics.
Vivos® appliances are custom-made oral devices that work by creating space and encouraging favorable positioning of the jaws, dental arches, and tongue. Over time, the appliances apply gentle, controlled forces that stimulate remodeling of the soft tissues and bony structures supporting the airway. This is accomplished through planned phases of appliance wear and periodic adjustments tailored to an individual’s progress.
The goal is to expand the dental arch and provide improved forward posture of the lower jaw, which in turn frees up room for the tongue and soft tissues that can otherwise obstruct the airway. The process takes advantage of the mouth’s natural adaptability; small, consistent changes in alignment can translate to meaningful improvements in airway patency, especially when combined with professional monitoring and supportive care.
Each appliance is fabricated from impressions, scans, and diagnostic records unique to the patient, ensuring a precise fit and predictable response. Because the therapy is progressive and personalized, clinicians can make data-driven modifications to optimize comfort, function, and therapeutic effect while minimizing disruption to daily life.
Vivos® treatment is intended for people experiencing snoring and sleep-disordered breathing, including many with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. It is also used in pediatric and adolescent cases where craniofacial development contributes to airway restriction and where early intervention may support healthier growth patterns. Screening typically involves a combination of sleep history, dental evaluation, and, when appropriate, sleep testing or imaging.
Assessment with a qualified clinician determines whether Vivos® is a suitable option. Ideal candidates are those whose airway compromise is related to oral and maxillofacial structure and who are committed to the multidisciplinary process of treatment and follow-up. Coordination with a patient’s sleep physician or pulmonologist is common and recommended when managing medically significant sleep-disordered breathing.
Vivos® therapy is not a universal solution, and candidacy should be established through careful evaluation. Factors such as severity of airway obstruction, dental health, and overall medical status are considered. Where the Vivos protocol is appropriate, it provides a structured pathway that prioritizes safety, measurable outcomes, and alignment with broader airway care goals.
The Vivos® process begins with a comprehensive consultation where the clinician gathers a detailed sleep history, performs an oral exam, and collects diagnostic records — which may include dental impressions, digital scans, photos, and radiographic imaging. These records guide treatment planning and help predict how the appliance will influence airway anatomy and function over time.
Once a personalized plan is created, the custom appliance is fabricated and fitted. Initial wear is introduced gradually to promote comfort and adaptation. Regular follow-up visits are scheduled to monitor progress, make fine adjustments, and evaluate airway response. These appointments are essential to ensure the therapy is progressing as intended and to address any concerns promptly.
The length of treatment varies by age, the degree of skeletal and soft-tissue change needed, and how consistently the appliance is worn. Many patients notice improvements in snoring and sleep quality during the early months of therapy, while structural remodeling and long-term benefits often take longer to achieve. Throughout the journey, clinicians emphasize patient education, compliance, and objective monitoring to support successful outcomes.
Because Vivos® is part of a multidisciplinary approach, your clinician may collaborate with sleep specialists, otolaryngologists, or pediatricians to coordinate care. This team-based model helps ensure that dental interventions complement other medical strategies and that patient health remains the foremost priority.
Delivering Vivos® therapy requires specialized training, careful diagnostic work, and ongoing clinical oversight. When selecting a provider, patients should look for a practice that integrates airway evaluation into routine dental care and that communicates clearly about goals, expectations, and monitoring strategies. Attention to detail in records, appliance fabrication, and follow-up care is critical to achieving predictable results.
The Dental Loft at Perry Hall brings a patient-centered approach and modern diagnostic tools to airway-focused dentistry. Our team emphasizes collaborative care and works closely with medical colleagues to ensure each treatment plan aligns with a patient’s overall health needs. We prioritize clear explanations, individualized planning, and supportive follow-up so patients understand each stage of their therapy.
With training in airway-centered protocols and access to advanced technology, a qualified dental team can guide candidates through the Vivos® process with confidence. The combination of clinical expertise, precise appliance design, and measured follow-up creates a foundation for meaningful improvements in nighttime breathing and daytime well-being.
Wrap-up: Vivos® Sleep Appliances offer a structured, non-surgical approach to improving airway form and function for many people affected by snoring and sleep-disordered breathing. If you’re curious whether this therapy could be a fit, our practice can help you explore the diagnostic steps and next moves. Contact us to learn more and arrange a consultation with a clinician experienced in airway-centered care.
Vivos sleep appliances are custom dental devices designed to change the shape and posture of the jaws, dental arches, and tongue position to improve airway space during sleep. They are part of a structured, dentistry-led protocol that aims to stimulate gradual remodeling of soft tissues and, in some cases, bony structures that influence breathing. The approach emphasizes progressive, controlled changes rather than a quick, symptomatic fix.
The devices are made from diagnostic records such as impressions or digital scans to ensure a precise fit and predictable response. Worn according to a clinician’s plan, the appliances apply gentle forces and are adjusted over time to expand the dental arch and promote a more forward lower-jaw posture. This creates more room for the tongue and soft tissues and can reduce nighttime airway obstruction for many patients.
Good candidates are typically patients whose sleep-disordered breathing is related to oral and maxillofacial structure, such as a narrow dental arch, retruded lower jaw, or tongue-position issues that contribute to airway restriction. Vivos® therapy is commonly considered for adults with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea and for children or adolescents when craniofacial development plays a role in airway health. A thorough screening that includes sleep history, dental evaluation, and appropriate diagnostic testing helps determine suitability.
Candidacy also depends on overall dental health, medical history, and a patient’s willingness to follow a multi-phase treatment plan with regular follow-up. Because Vivos® works by producing anatomical change, patients must be prepared for ongoing monitoring, appliance adjustments, and collaboration with other medical providers when indicated. Severe cases of sleep apnea or medically complex patients may need coordinated care with a sleep physician or otolaryngologist.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) delivers air pressure to keep the airway open during sleep and is an appliance-based therapy focused on symptom control each night of use. Traditional oral appliance therapy typically repositions the lower jaw to hold the airway open while worn. By contrast, Vivos therapy aims to create lasting anatomical changes through progressive appliance wear and remodeling, with the goal of improving airway form and function beyond nightly symptom control.
Because Vivos® is designed as a remodeling protocol, it may be presented as an alternative for patients seeking a longer-term, structural solution rather than nightly device dependence. That said, Vivos® is not universally appropriate for all patients and often requires collaboration with medical specialists to ensure an integrated plan of care. Decisions between CPAP, a mandibular advancement device, and Vivos® should be based on severity, diagnostic findings, and multidisciplinary clinical judgment.
The process begins with a comprehensive consultation where a clinician takes a detailed sleep history, performs an oral exam, and gathers diagnostic records such as digital scans, photographs, and radiographs. These records support a personalized treatment plan that predicts how the appliance will affect airway anatomy and function. When appropriate, the clinician may recommend sleep testing or coordinate with a sleep medicine provider to complement the dental assessment.
After fabrication and fitting of the custom appliance, patients typically follow a phased wear schedule with regular follow-up visits for adjustments and progress checks. Appointments allow clinicians to make data-driven modifications, address comfort or fit issues, and monitor airway response. The practice emphasizes patient education and adherence because consistent wear and timely adjustments are central to achieving intended structural improvements.
Treatment duration varies widely depending on factors such as age, the degree of skeletal and soft-tissue change required, and how consistently the appliance is worn. Many patients report subjective improvements in snoring and sleep quality within the first few months, while measurable structural remodeling typically emerges over a longer timeframe. Pediatric or adolescent patients may complete phases more quickly due to ongoing growth, whereas adults may require extended periods to achieve stable change.
Because progress is gradual, clinicians emphasize objective monitoring at intervals to document airway changes and guide adjustments. Long-term outcomes depend on adherence, the specifics of the treatment plan, and coordination with other therapies when needed. Patients should plan for a multi-visit course of care and realistic expectations about the pace of anatomical improvement.
Yes, Vivos® therapy can be appropriate for pediatric and adolescent patients when craniofacial development contributes to airway restriction and when early intervention may support healthier growth patterns. Appliances used in younger patients are designed to guide jaw and dental arch development in ways that increase airway space and improve breathing mechanics. Early screening and intervention may help reduce the long-term impact of airway compromise on sleep and development.
Because children are still growing, treatment plans are closely tailored and monitored to align with growth milestones and orthodontic needs. Families should expect a collaborative process that may involve pediatricians, ENT specialists, or orthodontists in addition to the dental clinician. Safety, comfort, and minimizing disruption to routine are priorities during pediatric care.
Like any treatment that changes dental or skeletal relationships, Vivos® therapy carries potential risks and side effects that should be discussed during informed consent. Patients may experience temporary discomfort, tooth movement, altered bite sensations, or increased salivation as they adapt to the appliance. These effects are generally monitored and managed through adjustments, but some changes in dental alignment may require orthodontic input.
Serious complications are uncommon when therapy is delivered by a trained clinician following the protocol and monitoring guidelines, however candidacy evaluation is important to identify patients for whom the approach may not be appropriate. Regular follow-up visits and clear communication with the care team help minimize risk and ensure that any unwanted effects are addressed promptly.
Clinicians use a combination of objective and subjective measures to track progress, including repeat clinical exams, dental models or scans, photographic comparisons, and, when applicable, follow-up sleep testing or pulse oximetry. These tools help document changes in dental arch width, jaw posture, and airway dimensions and can indicate whether adjustments are producing the intended anatomical effects. Patient-reported changes in snoring, daytime sleepiness, and sleep quality are also important components of evaluation.
Because Vivos® therapy often forms part of a multidisciplinary plan, collaboration with sleep physicians or ENT specialists can provide complementary data and ensure that airway improvements are clinically meaningful. Regular, scheduled assessments allow the care team to fine-tune the appliance, modify the treatment plan, and confirm that outcomes align with broader health objectives.
Proper home care helps maintain appliance hygiene and comfort. Patients should rinse the device after each use, brush it with a soft toothbrush and mild, nonabrasive cleanser, and store it in a ventilated case when not worn. Avoid using hot water or harsh chemicals that can deform the appliance or damage its surface.
Follow-up instructions from the clinician will include wear schedules, cleaning tips, and guidance on when to report fit problems or discomfort. Routine dental visits remain important to monitor oral health, track tooth movement, and ensure the appliance continues to function as intended throughout the treatment course.
Select a dental practice that integrates airway evaluation into its services, has training in airway-centered protocols, and documents diagnostic records carefully. Look for clinicians who collaborate with sleep medicine specialists, otolaryngologists, and other relevant providers to ensure coordinated care. Clear explanations about goals, expected timelines, monitoring strategies, and potential risks are markers of an experienced team.
The Dental Loft at Perry Hall offers airway-focused dentistry with modern diagnostic tools and a patient-centered approach, and we emphasize multidisciplinary collaboration when appropriate. When evaluating a provider, ask about their training with Vivos protocols, how they measure outcomes, and what follow-up you can expect so you can make an informed decision about your care.
Our practice helps every patient achieve a healthy, confident smile with personalized, compassionate care in a comfortable, modern environment.
