What is it?

Is your snoring or your partner’s snoring affecting your relationship? Are you not getting the recommended 7 to 9 hours of good quality sleep per night to keep your body and mind functioning optimally? Fotona’s NightLase therapy may just be the quiet relief you need.

While snoring is a common condition that affects sleep, it can indicate a more serious sleep disorder that is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Snoring occurs when the pharyngeal airway is narrowed due to floppy tissues and muscles in the mouth and throat that are relaxed. When the air is unable to move freely, it results in the vibration of surrounding tissues and creates a sound, commonly known as snoring. When the airway is fully blocked, breathing is completely obstructed which leads to sleep apnoeic episodes. Left untreated, sleep apnea has been shown to be linked to higher risks of stroke, diabetes and other diseases.

Picture of human mouth and throat

Fortunately, both snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) can be treated with Fotona Nightlase therapy – a safe and non-invasive laser procedure that does the following:

  • Stimulates collagen remodelling
  • Rejuvenates and tightens the floppy oral mucosal tissues that lead to obstruction of airways

Fotona’s patented Er:YAG laser modality heats tissue at the back of the throat which contracts collagen and has a tightening effect on the oral mucosal tissue, expanding the airway and allowing air to flow more freely.

What Can It Be Used For?

Fotona Nightlase therapy can be used on patients with snoring problems or for patients who suspect they have OSA. The Mallampati score is often used to predict whether a patient has OSA.

picture of different mallampati score system
  • Class I: Complete visualisation of the soft palate
  • Class II: Complete visualisation of the uvula
  • Class III: Visualisation of only the base of the uvula
  • Class IV: Soft palate is not visible at all

If you have a Class I Mallampati airway score, it indicates a low potential for snoring, while a Class III or IV score means it is easier for your airway to be blocked by tissue and hence there is a higher risk of snoring. Essentially, the closer the soft palate is to the tongue, the smaller the airway and the greater the probability of snoring. The goal of Fotona Nightlase treatment is to improve patients’ airway size and bring them to as low a class as possible.

How Does It Work?

Fotona Nightlase therapy utilises a patented Er:YAG laser modality that produces a tightening effect around the throat. This stimulates the contraction of collagen in the oral mucosa tissue. As the tissue contracts, the airway expands, eliminating vibrations of the pharyngeal soft tissue and decreasing the amplitude of snoring.

The laser is gentle enough to be used on sensitive tissue inside the mouth but strong enough to provide clinically efficacious heating. During a therapy session, the patient is expected to:

  1. Lie down with their mouth open during the treatment. Each session takes between 20-30 minutes to perform.
  2. No anaesthesia, needles or injections are required.
  3. Patients may feel a warm sensation at the treated areas during the session.
  4. An immediate widening at the back of the mouth is expected after each treatment which will gradually improve over the next few weeks.

What Is The Fotona Nightlase Difference?

Used by both doctors and dentists, Fotona Nightlase has been proven to have a high success rate in producing a positive change in sleep patterns. Multiple clinical studies show that up to 90% of patients reported significant improvement in their snoring and 80% reported much better breathing. Those with OSA also saw an 85% improvement after a course of three treatments.

Unlike other non-surgical treatments for snoring such as oral appliances, NightLase therapy does not require any device to be worn during sleep. It can also be done with the use of CPAP machines for patients with OSA.

Fotona Nightlase is:

  • Non-invasive
  • Safe and effective
  • Efficient with no downtime
  • Convenient with no devices required to be worn during sleep
  • Clinically tested and proven
  • Shown to produce long-lasting results
  • Effective with improvement in sleep quality after first treatment

FAQs

How many treatment sessions do I need?

Patients can expect to see improvements in sleep quality after one session, but three sessions spread 3-4 weeks apart are recommended for optimum results.

Who is suitable for Fotona Nightlase therapy?

Anyone with obstructive sleep apnea or suffering from snoring is suitable for this treatment. However, it is unsuitable for:

  • Pregnant women
  • Patients currently on therapy with photosensitive drugs

How long does a treatment session take?

Each session takes about 20-30 minutes. No anaesthetic is required, needles or injections are required.

Is there any downtime?

There is no downtime; patients can resume their daily activities immediately. This includes eating and drinking as per normal.

How long will results last?

Best results are projected to last for about a year. After which, patients are free to continue follow up treatments to prolong results.

How does Fotona Nightlase compare to surgery?

Compared to surgeries for obstructive sleep apnea like Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), Fotona Nightlase is a lot less costly and painful with no downtime or recovery. It is important to note that there is no permanent solution for snoring. So even with surgery, snoring can reoccur. With the Fotona Nightlase, treatment can be performed anytime once soft tissues in the airway start to loosen.

How does Fotona Nightlase compare to oral appliances for snoring?

Nasal dilators and oral appliances must be worn nightly and can be uncomfortable. They also have a limited effect of snoring as they do not target the root cause of snoring. In comparison, Fotona Nightlase is a non-invasive treatment that does not require any device to be worn during sleep and is a lot more convenient.

Contact Us

Please drop us a call or send in a contact form and we’ll be happy to assist you.

13 Stamford Rd, #B2-35 Capitol Singapore, Singapore 178905

ask@veritas.com.sg

+65 6283 3885

+65 8129 9789

WE’LL LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.