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R. Huntsman

Co-Founder / Chairman / CEO

R. Huntsman is a seasoned serial entrepreneur with a wealth of start-up experience spanning various industries including medical devices, dental practice management, retail, financial and capital formation, consulting, and more. With a broad vision, strong leadership, and strategic planning skills, he excels in confronting realities, devising improvement plans, and building high-performing management teams. His track record includes successfully managing operations exceeding hundred-million dollars in revenue. Beyond his professional endeavors, he treasures his 40-year marriage and is a proud parent to four children and grandparent to seven.

Highlights

Apr 30 · linkedin

Don't worry...it's just snoring. You're fine!

Maybe.

In a 2014 study of 273 adult patients suffering from various sleep problems, 100% of those patients also had a snoring problem. None of the 273 patients had ever had a prior sleep test, so all 273 were sent to certified sleep labs for an overnight polysomnogram (PSG) evaluation.

The results may surprise you. Of the 273 snoring patients...

  • 12 (4%) tested normal for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
  • 57 (21%) had mild OSA (bad, and likely to get worse)
  • 79 (29%) had moderate OSA (really bad--lots of comorbidities)
  • 119 (44%) had severe OSA (seriously bad--likely to die early)
  • 6 (2%) had AHI scores > 100 (really, really bad--as in call 911 now)

96% of people in this study who snored also had OSA

To be clear, other published studies show a snoring to OSA correlation of up to 70%, but still...

If you or your loved one snores, and if you'd like to keep them around, then please encourage them to get tested for OSA. Because untreated OSA makes life worse in so many ways. It can even kill.

FWIW, home sleep tests are widely available, easy to take right at home, and extremely accurate. Ask your medical doctor (or some specially trained dentists) for further information.

Sleep well. 😎

Apr 16 · linkedin

Part 2 of Q&A regarding pediatric sleep disordered breathing (SDB). (You may want to read the prior post first...just say'n.)

Q: If crowded / crooked teeth are part of the problem, won't orthodontics solve the SDB issue?

A: Unfortunately, no. This is especially true in cases where permanent teeth are extracted to create space. I WOULD NEVER ALLOW MY CHILD TO HAVE ANY OF THEIR PERMANENT TEETH EXTRACTED. Remember, braces and aligners are typically focused on cosmetic outcomes, not functional ones. Vivos-trained dentists routinely treat patients with perfectly straight teeth WHO CANNOT BREATHE PROPERLY. Modern orthodontics has developed excellent techniques that avoid the need for extractions. They can also help expand the dental arches somewhat, but braces alone have yet to demonstrate the ability to restore or optimize a human airway.

Also, as an added benefit, kids who go through treatment with Vivos Guides typically never need braces later in life. So not only will they breathe and sleep better, but they won't have to endure braces either (in most cases).

Q: If what you are saying is really true, then why doesn't my pediatrician or pediatric dentist know about it?

A: Believe it or not, most pediatricians only receive a few scant hours of training in pediatric sleep and breathing disorders during their formal medical school education. Pediatric dentists get zero formal education in this area. As a result, they just don't know. That doesn't make them wrong. We find them incredibly open to learning more. Most of them desperately want better non-drug solutions for their patients. We have to help get the word out. Parents have to ask the right questions and not be afraid to suggest alternatives.

Q: How early should a parent begin thinking about these issues with their child?

A: At birth is certainly not too early. A newborn infant with a tongue-tie will have difficulty nursing or may not be able to at all. This stresses everyone, especially the young mothers who wonder what is wrong. Tongue-ties can be addressed very quickly by a properly trained dentist. Once the tongue is released, it is free to move up and forward to begin developing and shaping the palette as well as latch on to the mother. Typically, however, oral appliance therapy is indicated for kids aged 3 and above. The earlier the intervention, the better and more satisfactory the outcome.

So those are most of the questions I've received thus far. Parents and providers need information, answers and tools to work with. Hopefully, what we're doing here at Vivos is a good healthy start. 😎

R. Huntsman
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Location

Littleton, Colorado, United States