At our family dentistry in Edmond, Oklahoma, our doctors offer patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) the opportunity to comfortably treat their sleep disorder. Many patients with OSA avoid receiving treatment because they’d rather avoid wearing a CPAP device. Fortunately, at our family dentistry in Edmond, Oklahoma, we offer patients an alternative to CPAP with Vivos, an innovative and nonintrusive option for treating sleep apnea.
Unlike CPAP, which requires the use of a facemask and hoses, Vivos treats sleep apnea without the need to use any machines. The treatment offers lasting results that have the potential for permanently correcting the underlying issues that cause OSA.
Getting treatment for OSA is incredibly important for patients that have a sleep disorder. In fact, it could be a matter of life or death.
A recent study conducted by researchers at Penn State College of Medicine found that people living with OSA have double the risk of experiencing sudden death when compared to those without OSA. Researchers also discovered that OSA, which is estimated to affect over 1 billion people worldwide, increases an individual’s risk of developing certain cardiovascular conditions that include congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and hypertension.
Untreated OSA can Have Deadly Consequences
As part of their study, researchers examined over 42,000 patients globally and conducted a systematic review of sleep apnea-related studies. Researchers discovered that patients with OSA have an increased risk of dying suddenly due to various causes, including cardiovascular death.
“Patients with sleep apnea experience shallow or interrupted breathing, which disrupts their sleep,” wrote the research team in their findings. “Our research shows this condition can be life-threatening. Those with OSA were at nearly double the risk of sudden death and cardiovascular mortality when compared to those without OSA.”
The data collected in the study suggests that OSA is linked with several cardiovascular issues that can result in death, including congestive heart failure and hypertension. Patients with untreated OSA experience oxidative stress, or a lack of available oxygen to the cells, which can contribute to an imbalance of antioxidants in the body. Over the years, this imbalance damages the cells and can work to quicken the aging process, leading to a variety of health problems.
“This study highlights the importance of appropriate prevention measures to reduce the incidence of OSA and OSA-related sudden death. Patients with this condition need to treat it like the matter of life and death that it is,” wrote researchers.
Protecting Your Long-Term Health
Considering the serious health issues linked to OSA, patients need to have their sleep disorder treated.
With Vivos, our doctors can offer patients a treatment option that doesn’t rely on uncomfortable masks and cumbersome hoses. This non-invasive option offers remarkable success for patients who experience troubled sleep due to anatomical issues that narrow the airway to impede their ability to breath. In roughly 98 percent of patients with OSA, the sleep disorder is the result of an abnormal anatomical feature of the soft tissues or a patient’s jawbone.
As an oral appliance therapy, Vivos works to gradually correct the underlying structural issues that cause a patient’s sleep disorder. By correcting these issues, Vivos offers a permanent solution for OSA in ways other treatment options cannot.
If you suffer from loud snoring and poor sleep, you need to schedule a consultation at our dentistry in Edmond, Oklahoma. Sleep apnea shouldn’t be taken lightly. Get the better night’s rest you deserve by contacting our team today.
