Vivos is a non-surgical, non-invasive system for treating sleep-disordered breathing, such as sleep apnea and snoring, by using custom-designed oral appliances to improve jaw and airway structure. These devices work by gently reshaping and expanding the oral cavity and upper jaw, which increases the size of the airway and stimulates the body to grow bone. This approach addresses the root cause of sleep apnea, which is often caused by underdeveloped jaws and restricted airways.
The average age range to begin Vivos treatment is between three and ten years old. The Vivos appliances differ between children and adults. Children are still actively growing, and you’re able to guide their growth and development. While with adults, there are limits regarding the structural changes you’re able to make.
In children, common symptoms that may indicate the need for Vivos include loud snoring, gasping or choking during sleep, daytime fatigue, teeth grinding, migraines, and even bed-wetting, all of which relate back to sleep-disordered breathing. Other symptoms, such as behavioral problems, ADHD, trouble at school, and nightmares, can also be examples of sleep apnea.
Smile Brookline is the first practice in its area to offer Vivos treatment for children. Since 1992, Sara Stock DDS has been dedicated to patients’ healthy teeth and gums to ensure long-term oral health and overall wellness. The Vivos System has changed the lives of thousands of people who suffer from sleep apnea.
Dr. Stock, founder and preventative & restorative dentist at Smile Brookline, first learned about Vivos during the pandemic. After attending a class on sleep-disordered breathing in adults and children, she became inspired by the potential to help kids using these appliances. That experience motivated her to bring Vivos therapy to families in Massachusetts.
Dr. Stock cares deeply about the care behind Vivos treatment, “I care so much about my patients. I spend time working with kids and their families. Some kids are easy and they come back right away, and other kids just need more help to get there. I find it so rewarding to see these kids grow and develop.”
