A gentle laser treatment that uses both LightWalker wavelengths to firm up the soft tissue behind snoring. No cutting, no anesthesia and nothing to wear at night.
See it in a demoSleep disordered breathing (SDB) is a spectrum of abnormal breathing during sleep, from subtle airflow limits to complete pauses in breathing.
Occasional or habitual. Usually air passing between the tongue and soft palate makes the palate vibrate, called palatal flutter. Snoring can also come from the nose, on the inhale or exhale.
Upper airway resistance syndrome. Increased resistance in the upper airway without complete blockage, causing frequent micro-arousals, fragmented sleep, daytime sleepiness and fatigue.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is repeated blockage of the upper airway during sleep that causes pauses in breathing. SDB also includes hypoventilation.
Nasal breathing is the natural, preferred way to breathe. Mouth breathing can affect air quality and oral health and raises the risk of snoring and SDB, so the cause of it is worth addressing.
Every treated area gets the same two-step sequence: Nd:YAG to pre-heat, then Er:YAG in Fotona SMOOTH® mode. Nothing is cut or removed.
The 1064 nm wavelength warms the tissue first, reaching deeper below the surface.
The 2940 nm wavelength in SMOOTH mode adds gentle, non-ablative heat to the surface layers.
The tissue contracts right away, opening the airway. Over time, flexible Type III collagen converts to sturdier Type I, so the tissue stays firmer.
C3 stands for Circumferential 3. It treats three areas in a set order, and each one makes the next easier to reach.
Treated first. It gently pulls the tongue forward, which opens up access for the next areas.
The contraction from the soft palate improves access to the uvula, the pillars and the back of the tongue.
Treated last, once the earlier areas have set up the best access.
Tongue position matters in snoring and sleep apnea. The Friedman tongue position, a sleep-specific scoring of how the tongue sits, is part of the reason the back of the tongue is in the protocol.
The update drew on studies of upper airway collapse patterns during drug-induced sleep endoscopy (Kastoer et al.), and on how tongue volume and hyoid position affect airway patency (Kirkness, Sowho, Murano).
Doctors have reported neuromuscular changes along with the collagen remodeling, a "reconnection" that improves the muscles around the throat, plus fascial and hyaluronic acid changes.
Treats two areas, in order: floor of mouth, then soft palate and anterior pillars. Same Nd:YAG pre-heat followed by Er:YAG SMOOTH on each.
total airway volume on 3D evaluation after three treatments, in one case study
increase in the most constricted area of the airway in the same case
in swallowing or speech recorded or reported after NightLase
After treatment, short-term dryness is possible. Ask patients to report any change in swallowing, taste, smell or speech.
Single case study results. Individual results vary.
SDB usually comes from a combination of factors, which is why a full evaluation matters.
Common causes include nasal blockage from allergies, enlarged tonsils and adenoids, a small jaw or large tongue and palate, and obesity. Research has linked childhood OSA with ADD/ADHD and bedwetting. Pediatric NightLase®/TonsiLase℠ is used to help these patients.
OSA during a child's rapid brain and nervous system development may cause subtle long-term effects, which is why snoring in kids shouldn't be ignored.
Snoring is a symptom. Assessing it properly is what lets you find the cause, treat the right patients and show results.
Untreated sleep disordered breathing (SDB) can have significant negative effects on a patient's health.
An accurate picture lets you find the root cause and build the right treatment plan around it.
A NightLase C3 plan tailored to the patient leads to better compliance and better outcomes.
Pre- and post-treatment photos, recordings and sleep data show the change and serve as medical and legal records.
Chief complaint and a full history: sleep, lifestyle, CPAP use, medical, medications and dental.
An oral cavity exam for SDB, including Mallampati score, tonsil grading and the pharyngeal curtain.
Questionnaires, a snoring recording, and a check of whether the snoring is nasal or palatal.
Before treatment, and again about 3 months after the treatment series, depending on the patient and severity.
Quick, standard tools that flag who needs a closer look and give you a baseline to measure against.
Measures daytime sleepiness. A score of 8 or more suggests possible sleep disordered breathing. Use the age-appropriate version.
Covers snoring, tiredness, observed apneas, blood pressure, BMI, age, neck size and gender.
An iPhone and Android app that records, scores and tracks snoring. Great for before-and-after comparisons and for telling nasal from palatal snoring.
If snoring isn't dropping as expected, expand the SnoreLab graph to see whether the sound is on inhale or exhale, and listen back to check for outside factors.
Results such as AHI and oxygen desaturation are what classify severity.
Often done alongside NightLase for patients whose nostrils collapse inward when they breathe through the nose.
Patients whose nostrils collapse on nasal breathing. It can come from weak cartilage, previous nose surgery, trauma, or no clear reason at all.
The nostrils are the first place along the airway where airflow can get limited. That can lead to mouth breathing, more effort to breathe through the nose, and a higher risk of developing or worsening sleep apnea.
Pre- and post-treatment photos are vital. They document the tissue accurately, give you a before-and-after record and serve as medical and legal documentation.
NightLase® is FDA cleared for use on the target tissues. It is not FDA approved to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Patients with suspected OSA should be evaluated by a physician.
In-office or virtual. I'll walk you through the protocol and how to fit sleep screening into your practice.
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