How a Laser Can Snuff Out Your Snoring

Many people snore on occasion, even if they don’t realize it. In fact, roughly 45% of adults snore on occasion, while another 25% of people snore every night. If you’re among this 25% of adults, it may be time to find out why you snore and how you can avoid it in the future.

While snoring isn’t always a cause for alarm, obstructive sleep apnea (a common cause of snoring) raises your health risks. It occurs when the tissues surrounding your airway collapse at night while you sleep, making it a struggle to inhale and exhale. Snoring is the sound of your tissues vibrating together in your airway.

Our specialists Chad Denman, DDS, Vidya Pai, MD, and Michael Lund, DDS, at Sleep Cycle Center in Austin and Lakeway, Texas, evaluate your snoring with home sleep testing and can find out if sleep apnea is a cause. No matter your reason for snoring, our team can recommend a treatment that will help.

Laser treatment for snoring

Lasers are widely used across several medical specialties, and sleep medicine is no exception. In fact, laser treatment for snoring is a noninvasive option that many people try first. If you are searching for an alternative to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, laser treatment is an option to consider.

During laser therapy for snoring, a medical-grade CO2 laser heats the tissues in your throat and airway. That causes the tissues to tighten and constrict. Laser snoring therapy prevents the loose tissues from vibrating together as you inhale and exhale throughout the night. Your partner, roommates, or family can all expect quieter nights of sleep as a result.

What to expect

When arriving for a new and unfamiliar treatment, you might feel some anxiety if you have no idea what to expect. With laser therapy for snoring, you don’t need any anesthesia to keep you comfortable throughout the treatment process. However, it might be available as an option if it is something you want.

Our team gives you a pair of safety goggles to protect your eyes from the laser light. You’ll need to hold your mouth open according to our team’s instructions and hold your breath when we ask you to.

Our team uses the laser to shorten your uvula — the dangling tissue structure you can see in the back of your throat. They also treat the tissues on either side of the uvula. A short observation period lasting only 20-30 minutes completes the process, and you can return home.

A short recovery process

The recovery period for nonsurgical laser snoring treatment is quick, but you’ll need to accommodate the tissues in your throat as they heal. Our team might prescribe pain medications and antibiotics for your recovery, and you should stick to a soft foods diet for several days as your throat heals.

Ready to find out if laser snoring treatment is right for you?

If you snore, it’s time to consider your options. To find out more about home sleep testing and treatments for snoring, schedule an appointment over the phone or online at Sleep Cycle Center today.