What Is the Vivos Program and How It Helps Kids Breathe
If your child snores, breathes through their mouth, wakes up tired, or struggles to focus during the day, the cause may not be immediately obvious. Many parents spend months — sometimes years — addressing these symptoms through allergists, sleep specialists, or ENTs before discovering that the root issue is structural: the jaw and airway simply did not develop the space needed for healthy breathing.
The Vivos Airway Growth and Development Program is a specialized approach to pediatric care that addresses this structural cause directly. At Tooth + Tongue – Specialized Dentistry and Anesthesia in Walnut Creek, we offer the Vivos program as part of our commitment to airway-focused, functional pediatric dentistry — because helping children breathe well is just as important as helping them grow straight teeth.
What Is the Vivos Program?
Vivos is an FDA-cleared, non-surgical oral appliance therapy system designed to guide the natural development of the upper and lower jaws in children. Unlike traditional orthodontics, which primarily focuses on moving teeth, the Vivos program works to expand and remodel the bone itself — creating more space for the tongue, improving nasal airflow, and supporting a healthier, more open airway.
The system uses a series of custom-made, removable oral appliances that children wear for a prescribed number of hours each day. These appliances apply gentle, consistent forces that stimulate natural bone growth in the jaw. Because children's bones are still actively developing, this type of guided growth is far more achievable — and more effective — during childhood than in adulthood.
The Vivos program is not a quick fix. It is a carefully planned, longitudinal approach to development that typically unfolds over a period of 12 to 24 months, depending on the child's age, severity of the issue, and individual growth response.
Why Jaw Development Matters for Breathing
To understand why the Vivos program works, it helps to understand how jaw structure affects breathing.
The Connection Between a Narrow Jaw and Airway Restriction
The upper jaw, or maxilla, forms the floor of the nasal cavity. When the maxilla is narrow or underdeveloped, the nasal passages above it are correspondingly restricted. Less space in the nasal passages means less airflow — which pushes the child toward breathing through the mouth instead.
Mouth breathing, in turn, creates a cycle of further developmental problems. The tongue drops from its natural resting position against the roof of the mouth, which removes the primary stimulus for healthy palate and jaw expansion. Over time, this leads to even more crowding, a higher-arched palate, and worsening airway restriction.
How This Shows Up in Children
Many Walnut Creek parents who bring their children to Tooth + Tongue – Specialized Dentistry and Anesthesia describe a recognizable pattern of symptoms before an airway evaluation identifies the structural cause:
Chronic mouth breathing, especially during sleep
Snoring or audible breathing at night
Restless sleep, frequent waking, or nightmares
Dark circles under the eyes despite adequate sleep time
Teeth grinding at night
Difficulty waking in the morning
Fatigue, irritability, or difficulty concentrating during the day
Crowded teeth appearing at a young age
These symptoms are often treated individually — with sleep aids, allergy medications, or behavioral interventions — without addressing the structural root cause. The Vivos program targets that root cause directly.
How the Vivos Program Works
Initial Evaluation and Imaging
The Vivos process begins with a comprehensive evaluation of the child's airway, jaw development, and bite. At Tooth + Tongue – Specialized Dentistry and Anesthesia, this often includes a CBCT scan — a low-radiation, three-dimensional imaging tool that allows us to measure airway volume, identify the narrowest points of restriction, and assess skeletal development with precision.
This data allows us to create a treatment plan tailored specifically to the child's anatomy and growth stage.
Custom Appliance Fabrication
Based on the evaluation findings, a set of custom Vivos appliances is fabricated. These are removable, smooth, and designed to be worn comfortably — typically during sleep and for several hours during the day, depending on the protocol.
Children adjust to the appliances relatively quickly, and the design is intended to minimize disruption to daily activities, eating, and speech.
Guided Jaw Expansion and Airway Development
As the child wears the appliances over the course of treatment, the gentle forces encourage the upper jaw to widen and develop forward. This expansion has two important effects: it creates space for teeth to erupt properly — often reducing or eliminating the need for future tooth extractions — and it increases the volume of the nasal airway above the expanding palate.
As nasal airflow improves, many children naturally begin to transition from mouth breathing to nasal breathing. This shift supports healthier sleep, better oxygenation, and improved facial and jaw development going forward.
Monitoring and Adjustments
Throughout the Vivos program, regular follow-up visits allow our team to monitor progress, make adjustments to the appliances, and evaluate airway changes. Parents often begin to notice improvements in sleep quality and breathing patterns within the first few months of treatment.
Who Is a Good Candidate for the Vivos Program?
The Vivos program is most effective when started during the active growth period — generally between ages 6 and 12, though some protocols extend to older children and teens. The earlier treatment begins, the greater the potential for guiding natural development rather than compensating for completed growth.
Children who may benefit from a Vivos evaluation include those who:
Breathe through the mouth consistently
Snore or show signs of sleep-disordered breathing
Have been diagnosed with or are suspected of having sleep apnea
Have a narrow palate or crowded teeth at a young age
Have a tongue tie that has restricted proper tongue posture and palate development
Have completed a tongue or lip tie release and need structural support to reinforce improved tongue function
At Tooth + Tongue – Specialized Dentistry and Anesthesia in Walnut Creek, we assess each child individually to determine whether the Vivos program is appropriate and what outcomes are realistic based on their development.
The Vivos Program and Tongue Tie
One important connection that parents may not be aware of is the relationship between tongue tie and airway development. When the tongue is restricted by a tight frenulum, it cannot rest naturally against the roof of the mouth. This means the primary natural stimulus for palate expansion is absent — and the jaw develops narrower than it otherwise would.
In children who have had a tongue tie release, the Vivos program can serve as a powerful complement to the procedure. Once the tongue is free to function properly, the Vivos appliances support the structural development that the tongue's new mobility can now encourage.
This combination — frenectomy followed by Vivos airway guidance — is one of the most comprehensive approaches available for children with both tongue restriction and structural airway concerns.
Why Families in Walnut Creek Choose Tooth + Tongue for Vivos
Choosing a provider for the Vivos program means choosing a team that understands airway development, functional dentistry, and the unique needs of growing children. At Tooth + Tongue – Specialized Dentistry and Anesthesia, the Vivos program is part of a broader philosophy of care that looks at the whole child — not just the teeth.
Our approach combines advanced diagnostic imaging, personalized treatment planning, and a calm, child-centered environment where young patients feel safe and supported throughout the process. We work closely with families to explain every step, answer questions honestly, and ensure that treatment aligns with both clinical goals and the child's comfort.
For families across Walnut Creek and the greater Bay Area who are concerned about their child's breathing, sleep, jaw development, or long-term orthodontic health, the Vivos program offers a proactive, non-surgical path forward that works with the body's natural growth process.
If your child shows signs of airway restriction, mouth breathing, or restless sleep, an evaluation at Tooth + Tongue – Specialized Dentistry and Anesthesia can provide clarity and a clear plan of action.
Ready to get started on your family's new dental journey? Contact us here!
Call (925) 949-8427
1800 San Miguel Dr. Walnut Creek, CA 94596
