Inspire Sleep vs Vivos Sleep Apnea treatment Honolulu HI

Inspire Sleep vs. Vivos sleep apnea treatment, what should you choose? Raise your hand if you’ve ever woken up gasping for air in the middle of the night. Or maybe, you’re used to your partner elbowing you to roll over and stop snoring already.

If this sounds familiar, you might have sleep apnea. This common disorder disrupts breathing during sleep, depriving you of quality sleep.

The good news?

New treatments like Inspire and Vivos offer hope for peaceful slumber. But how do you choose between high-tech implants or oral devices to quiet your snoring for good?

Here’s an in-depth look at Vivos and Inspire, from one of Honolulu’s best dentists, so you can decide the best solution for uninterrupted sleep.

What’s Different Between Inspire & Vivos?

Inspire and Vivos both aim to open up your airway so you can snooze without strangling snorts. But they go about it in very different ways.

Inspire

With Inspire, a surgeon implants a small breathing pacemaker under your skin. The device monitors your breathing patterns during sleep. If your airway starts to collapse and close up, it stimulates a nerve to instantly open your airway muscles.

The result? Your airway stays open all night, making loud snoring and sleep apnea a thing of the past. It’s like using a remote control to keep your breathing muscles from fluttering shut while you sleep.

Vivos

Vivos offers a less high-tech approach. Rather than implants, Vivos uses a series of custom oral devices to remodel your mouth and throat.

By gradually shifting your lower jaw forward, these devices open up your airway so it doesn’t collapse when your muscles relax at night. Vivos appliances also encourage new bone growth to expand your jaws over time.

After months of slow adjustments, Vivos leaves you with a newly transformed oral anatomy that allows unobstructed breathing through an enlarged, permanent airway.

So in a nutshell:

• Inspire uses an implanted nerve stimulator to keep your airway open at night.
• Vivos reshapes your mouth and throat to remove obstructions for free airflow.

Now let’s look at how these treatments actually work to banish sleep apnea for good.

How Inspire Sleep Apnea Treatment Works

Here’s a quick rundown of how Inspire works:

• A surgeon implants three small parts under your skin. These include a pulse generator, breathing sensor, and stimulation lead.
• The sensor monitors your breathing patterns. When you inhale, it signals the generator.
• The generator sends mild electrical pulses to the nerve that controls your upper airway muscles. This keeps them open so you can breathe freely.
• You control the device with a remote to turn it on before bed and adjust stimulation levels.
• The battery lasts about 11 years before it needs replaced.

So in a nutshell, Inspire uses electricity to prevent your airway from collapsing while you sleep.

How Does Vivos Sleep Apnea Treatment Work?

Vivos takes a less invasive approach. Rather than implants, Vivos uses custom oral devices. Here’s how they work their magic:

• You’ll get a retainer-like device tailored to your mouth’s shape. It’s designed to gradually reposition your lower jaw forward.
• Moving your lower jaw opens up space in your airway. This prevents it from collapsing when muscles relax during sleep.
• Vivos devices also encourage new bone growth in your upper and lower jaws. This expands your oral cavity and airway for improved breathing.
• You’ll wear the oral device at night over the course of treatment. This gently reshapes your mouth and throat to keep your airway open, even without the device.
• Results are long-lasting after you complete treatment. Most patients see success after wearing their Vivos device for around 12 months.

So in short, Vivos reshapes your oral anatomy for a permanently open, unobstructed airway.

Which Treatment Should I Choose for My Sleep Apnea?

There are pros and cons to both Inspire and Vivos. Consider the following when deciding which option may be best for you:

Pros of Inspire

• Highly effective for moderate to severe apnea cases
• Adjustable stimulation levels
• Long-lasting battery

Potential downsides of Inspire

• Invasive surgical procedure
• Ongoing stimulation side effects
• Higher upfront and long-term costs
• Small risk of complications requiring additional surgery

Pros of Vivos

• Non-invasive treatment
• Reshapes anatomy for natural, permanent results
• Generally well tolerated by patients
• No implanted device or long-term maintenance

Potential downsides of Vivos

• Progressively expands airway over months of treatment
• May not work as well for severe apnea
• Not adjustable like Inspire device

Vivos offers a less invasive approach with lasting results. For many sleep apnea sufferers, Vivos provides an excellent alternative to implants like Inspire.

Final Thoughts

Both Inspire and Vivos aim to unblock your airway for restful slumber. Inspire uses an implanted device while Vivos relies on oral appliances. While highly effective, Inspire requires surgery and comes with stimulation side effects. Vivos reshapes your upper airway through non-invasive oral treatment. And the results last long after you finish treatment.

If you suffer from severe sleep apnea, Inspire may prove the best route. But for mild to moderate cases, Vivos provides an effective alternative without surgery. See an expert like Dr. Eugene M. Azuma to learn more about Vivos and find the best sleep apnea treatment plan for your needs.

With innovation and an expert sleep apnea doctor and dentist, peaceful sleep is within reach. Breathe easy and sleep soundly once more.

Schedule your FREE consultation today!

FAQ’s

Is Inspire Approved by the FDA?

Yes, the FDA approved Inspire for treating obstructive sleep apnea in 2014. Its safety and effectiveness earned Inspire this FDA approval.

Is Vivos Approved by the FDA?

Vivos recently earned FDA clearance too. In 2021, Vivos won FDA 510(k) clearance to treat moderate and severe sleep apnea. This makes Vivos the first oral appliance with FDA clearance for these severe cases.

Are There Side Effects With Either Treatment?

All treatments come with potential side effects. Here are a few to keep in mind:

Inspire potential side effects

• Discomfort, swelling, or infection from the implant procedure
• Stimulation side effects like tongue weakness or reduced swallowing capacity
• Device malfunction requiring additional surgery
• Throat or tongue discomfort from stimulation
• Difficulty speaking or hitting high notes when singing
• Weight gain if apnea improves (less calories burned at night)

Vivos potential side effects

• Jaw pain or discomfort from wearing the oral device
• Tooth movement or changes in your bite
• Excess salivation
• Potential long-term changes in facial structure
• May not work as well for severe sleep apnea cases

Though they are so rare, both options come with little, measurable risks. Discuss any concerns with your doctor.

When to Seek Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

If you experience any of the following sleep apnea symptoms, see your doctor:

• Loud snoring
• Choking or gasping during sleep
• Morning headaches
• Extreme daytime sleepiness
• Trouble concentrating
• Irritability or mood swings
• High blood pressure

Your doctor can run tests to check for sleep apnea. They may recommend Vivos, Inspire, CPAP, or other treatments to help you sleep soundly. Don’t trust just any dentist with your health, schedule an appointment with Honolulu’s best dentist, Dr. Azuma!