Inspire Sleep vs. Vivos Sleep Apnea Treatment: A Comparative Guide

Are you searching for a sleep apnea treatment like Inspire sleep vs Vivos? Do you wrestle with your blankets and pillows every night? You’re not alone. Millions struggle with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition where breathing stops and starts repeatedly during sleep.

Thankfully, there’s a groundbreaking treatment called Vivos, offering life-changing relief for even severe sleep apnea sufferers. Read on to learn more!

What Is Vivos and What Does it Do?

Vivos sleep apnea treatment is an FDA-cleared CPAP alternative therapy designed for obstructive sleep apnea. Unlike typical night guards or mouthpieces, Vivos uses custom-fit oral devices to gently reshape your oral cavity and naturally widen your airway.

This gradual reshaping process expands and stabilizes the airway, allowing you to breathe more easily during sleep. Unlike surgery or CPAP machines, Vivos requires no anesthesia, no incisions, and no external CPAP equipment and is a snoring treatment.

Here’s what makes Vivos unique:

• Custom-Fit Devices: Each Vivos oral appliance is tailored to your teeth and jaws using dental impressions. This custom fit ensures the devices stay in place and target pressure points specific to your anatomy.
• Non-Invasive Therapy: Vivos is non-surgical and doesn’t need anesthesia. The oral devices are slim and comfortable, resembling orthodontic retainers. No masks, no CPAP machines, and no recovery time required.
• Gradual, Lasting Results: Vivos works by gradually reshaping your oral cavity to create more room for airflow. This promotes natural growth of the jaws and facial bones, leading to lasting structural changes.
• FDA-Cleared for All OSA Levels: Vivos is the first oral appliance cleared by the FDA to treat mild, moderate, and severe sleep apnea in adults.
• Root Cause Targeting: Unlike other treatments that only manage symptoms, Vivos addresses the underlying anatomical problem by expanding the airway.

 

 

Vivos vs. Inspire – What’s the Difference?

Inspire is another innovative treatment for sleep apnea, using a surgically implanted device in the chest to stimulate tongue muscles and prevent airway blockages during sleep.

Both Vivos and Inspire go beyond symptom relief to promote lasting improvements in breathing. Here are the key differences:

• Invasiveness: Inspire involves incisions and recovery time, while Vivos reshapes the airway using only oral appliances.
• Adjustability: Inspire requires doctor programming to adjust settings, whereas Vivos devices are easily adjustable.
• Failure Risk: Inspire’s implanted device carries risks like infection and malfunction, whereas Vivos has lower complication risks.
• Efficacy: Inspire is effective for mild and moderate apnea, but Vivos is the first and only oral appliance FDA-cleared for all levels of OSA severity.

How the Vivos Process Works

The Vivos treatment plan is customized for each patient and typically lasts 12-24 months. Here’s what to expect:

1. Consultation: Your first visit involves a consultation with a Vivos-trained dentist. They’ll assess your oral anatomy, sleeping position, OSA severity, and treatment goals to design a tailored plan.
2. Oral Device Fitting: Dental impressions are taken to create custom-fit oral appliances. The initial device repositions the lower jaw to open your airway, with follow-up devices gradually expanding the upper jaw.
3. Incremental Progress: Wear each oral appliance while you sleep, allowing time for your airway to reshape. Your provider will monitor and adjust the therapy as needed. Treatment time is typically 12-24 months.
4. Maintenance Plan: After completing the Vivos process, most patients transition to ongoing maintenance therapy to retain gains and prevent recurrence.

Is Inspire FDA-Approved?

Yes, the Inspire upper airway stimulation system received FDA approval in 2014. It remains the only FDA-approved hypoglossal nerve stimulation device for sleep apnea, shown to reduce sleep apnea events by 68% on average after one year.

Is Vivos FDA-Approved?

Vivos received FDA 510(k) clearance in 2023 to treat mild, moderate, and severe OSA. This groundbreaking clearance acknowledges Vivos’ equivalence to CPAP, affirming it as a safe, non-surgical option for patients at any stage of obstruction.

 

Potential Side Effects and Risks

All treatments carry potential side effects and risks. Here’s how Vivos and Inspire compare:

• Vivos Potential Side Effects:
  • Initial discomfort while adjusting to new devices
  • Temporary excess salivation
  • Tooth soreness or movement
  • Jaw soreness or stiffness
  • Rare permanent bite changes
• Inspire Sleep Potential Side Effects:
  • Discomfort or swelling at incision sites
  • Infection requiring antibiotics or revision surgery
  • Breathing or swallowing difficulties
  • Nerve damage
  • Device malfunction requiring replacement
  • Skin erosion around the implant site

When to Consider Treatment for Sleep Apnea

If you regularly experience these symptoms, speak to your doctor about OSA treatments like Vivos or Inspire:

• Disturbing snoring
• Daytime fatigue or drowsiness
• Concentration difficulties
• Mood changes or irritability
• Morning headaches
• Gasping or choking during sleep
• Frequent nighttime urination
• TMJ and facial pain
• Teeth grinding

Which Therapy Should I Choose – Vivos or Inspire?

Choosing between Vivos and Inspire depends on your OSA severity, medical conditions, personal preferences, and ability to use CPAP. Here’s a guide to help you decide:

• Consider Vivos If:
  • You want to avoid surgery.
  • You have any level of OSA severity.
  • You need a flexible, adjustable treatment.
  • You cannot tolerate CPAP.
  • You have dental/jaw misalignment.
  • You prefer non-invasive, reversible therapy.
• Consider Inspire If:
  • You have moderate to severe OSA.
  • You are open to implanted technology.
  • You failed other OSA treatments.
  • You cannot use CPAP.

Your Vivos or Inspire provider can help weigh your options. FDA clearance shows Vivos is safe and effective, even for severe, complex sleep apnea cases.

Final Thoughts

Both Vivos and Inspire offer innovative alternatives to standard sleep apnea treatments like CPAP. While conservative options like oral appliances and positional therapy help some, millions need real solutions to end the chronic health toll of OSA.

Ready to learn more? Visit our sleep center or contact our dental sleep medicine specialist Dr. Drew Randall at Randall Dentistry in Dallas, TX. He is a leading Vivos provider dedicated to helping patients achieve lifetime freedom from sleep apnea.

You deserve to wake up feeling refreshed. The time for better sleep is now!

Schedule your FREE consultation today.