Company insight The power of sleep
Getting a good night’s sleep brings many benefi ts. It can boost the immune system and reduce the risks of obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and more. When suffering from snoring or obstructive sleep apnea, the quality of sleep is affected. Fotona’s NightLase is an anti-snoring laser treatment that helps to improve the quality of sleep in a minimally invasive and safe way.
noring is the audible vibration of respiratory structures, such as the soft palate and uvula, due to obstructed air movement during breathing while asleep. It is also the most frequent nocturnal symptom of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a potentially life-threatening disorder that causes repetitive episodes of partial or complete collapse of the upper airway during sleep.
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Choosing the right patients Not everyone is a suitable patient for a laser anti-snoring treatment. A careful and complete evaluation is imperative before the treatment, and the underlying cause of snoring has to be identified. Many factors can play an important role, such as the anatomy of the patient’s mouth and sinuses, alcohol consumption, allergies, body weight and more.
“For those suffering from OSA, laser treatment can also help to ease the symptoms and may be an additional option to help open up the airway.”
OSA causes daytime fatigue and sleepiness as well as cardiovascular problems, such as high blood pressure and increased risk of heart disease. Snoring should not be considered a minor inconvenience, but assessed by a doctor, as it can indicate deeper problems. One of the newer, non-invasive first-line options is the patient-friendly NightLase laser treatment.
NightLase is recommended if snoring is caused by a narrowing of the airway due to a sagging soft palate. For those suffering from OSA, laser treatment can also help to ease the symptoms and may be an additional option to help open up the airway.
How does it work? NightLase is based on an innovative Er:YAG
SMOOTH mode, which consists of a series of sub-ablative micro pulses that are used to heat the soft palate tissues of the airway, causing a tightening effect that reduces vibration capacity as well as collapsibility and helps to keep the airway open. The tightening effect is caused by the contraction of collagen and growth of new collagen fibres in the oral mucosa tissue. The NightLase procedure is performed with approximately three short treatment sessions spaced over two months. Each session lasts around 20 minutes and requires no anaesthesia. During the procedure, the patient might feel a slight heating sensation, such as when drinking hot tea, but there is no discomfort as soon as the procedure ends. The results can be seen already after the first session.
Safe and effective
Several clinical studies have confirmed the effectiveness of NightLase. Patients have reported improvements in their snoring and OSA symptoms, being able to breathe easier as well as having higher levels of alertness and focus. The final results of the treatment have been shown to last up to a year or more, after which the therapy can be repeated. The effectiveness was also confirmed by a placebo controlled study. In comparison with a sham treatment, the NightLase option seemed to significantly reduce socially disturbing snoring and improve the sleep-related health status of both the patient and their bedtime partner. Sleep is nature’s way to regenerate the body, keeping one healthy, alert and in a good mood. Eliminating or reducing the effects of snoring can help to restore the benefits of quality sleep while reducing the risks of developing health-threatening conditions. ●
Before (left) and after NightLase treatment (right). 50
www.fotona.com. Practical Patient Care /
www.practical-patient-care.com
Jaana Sippus Hannele, DDS,
M.Sc.
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