Looking for a laser snoring treatment, Solea Sleep? Does your partner keep you up all night with their snoring? Do you find yourself waking up gasping for air? The fact is, approximately 37 million adults in the U.S. snore regularly. This common issue can lead to exhaustion, relationship problems, impaired work performance, and more.
In this blog post, we’ll explore an exciting new snoring and sleep apnea treatment called Solea. Unlike anything else on the market, Solea uses highly advanced laser technology to tighten the soft tissue in your throat. This stops the vibrations that cause snoring and restores free breathing.
Best of all, laser snoring treatment Solea Sleep is quick, comfortable, and done right in Dr. Anthony Grados Forestville Family Dentistry office. No surgery or recovery time required. Just walk in, get treated, and walk out sleeping soundly that same night!
The Hidden Dangers of Snoring and Sleep Apnea
First, let’s look at why snoring and sleep apnea cause so many issues. Beyond irritating your bed partner, they can seriously impact your health and quality of life.
Snoring occurs when soft tissue in your throat relaxes and vibrates while you sleep. As you breathe, air rushing past causes rumbling sounds. Snoring can range from soft to loud and raspy. Often worse when sleeping on your back, it can wake you or your partner.
At first, snoring may seem harmless. But it can indicate sleep apnea – a dangerous disorder where your airway actually closes off during sleep, reducing oxygen to your brain and body.
Apnea events last 10 seconds or longer until your brain forces you to gasp awake. This can happen hundreds of times a night, preventing you from reaching the deep REM sleep you need to function properly.
Let’s look at some statistics:
- Over 37 million adults snore on a regular basis
- Approximately 25 million Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea
- People who snore are 3 to 4 times more likely to have high blood pressure and heart disease
- Up to 80% of people with sleep apnea are undiagnosed
Suffering from sleep apnea has serious consequences beyond feeling tired all the time. Here are some of the many side effects:
- Impaired concentration and memory
- Increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke
- Weight gain
- Depression, mood disorders
- Lower sex drive and bedroom performance
- Weakened immune system
And those with untreated sleep apnea have a far higher chance of having a heart attack or stroke during sleep hours. For commercial drivers and machine operators, daytime drowsiness raises the risk of fatal accidents.
Bottom line – snoring and sleep apnea ruin your quality of life and are downright dangerous. Thankfully Solea offers real relief…
Could My Snoring Be Sleep Apnea? Take Our FREE Quiz and Find Out!
How The Solea Laser Stops Snoring at Its Source
Laser snoring treatment Solea Sleep is a uniquely effective laser treatment that targets the root causes of snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea.
Developed by the medical technology company Convergent Dental, Solea uses patented Laser-Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) to carefully reshape the soft tissue in your throat.
This enlarges your airway so air can flow freely while you sleep. The vibrations and blockages that cause snoring and apnea are eliminated.
Solea uses a flexible laser fiber to deliver pulses of light energy that tighten and stiffen the uvula, soft palate, tonsils and pharynx:
This process is called photo-thermal ablation. The light waves heat the target tissue, stimulating collagen regeneration. New collagen fibers tighten everything up.
Unlike painful incisions from traditional surgeries like UPPP, Solea is non-invasive. There are no cuts, stitches or tissue removal. The treatment reshapes your throat anatomy from the inside out. You heal naturally with minimal discomfort.
Solea can also tighten your turbinates – nasal passages inside your nose that can obstruct airflow. This nasal turbinate reduction further opens your airway for smooth, silent breathing through the night.
In several clinical studies, Solea has been proven to significantly reduce snoring and symptoms of OSA. Patients reported better sleep quality, more energy during the day, and improved intimacy with bed partners.
Let’s look at the step-by-step process…
Your Solea Laser Treatment
From start to finish, getting Solea treatment for snoring takes less than one hour and is done right in our Forestville CA dentist’s office. There’s no hospital stay required.
You simply come in, get treated, and leave. Many patients report the procedure itself takes only 5 to 20 minutes.
Here’s what to expect:
Numbing – Your throat is numbed with a local anesthetic spray to maximize comfort. This wears off within a few hours.
Laser Application – Using the flexible fiber optic tip, Dr. Anthony Grados Forestville will apply pulses of laser energy to the target areas. You may feel some warmth but most patients report little to no pain thanks to the numbing spray.
Healing – Immediately after treatment you can drive yourself home, eat and go about normal activities. Your throat may feel scratchy or swollen for a few days as the tissue tightens. Over the next few weeks, remodeling collagen will increase your airway size.
Follow Up – Your dentist may recommend follow up visits to assess your progress and perform laser touch ups if needed. But many patients see drastic improvement after just one session.
And that’s it! No painful recovery period. No taking weeks off work. For most people, the benefits are felt after the very first treatment.
Benefits beyond Reducing Snoring
The Solea laser doesn’t just tackle snoring and sleep apnea. Patients report improvements in other areas too:
Less Need for CPAP – For those using uncomfortable CPAP machines, Solea can reduce your required settings or eliminate the need entirely. No more cumbersome equipment andmask every night!
Clearer Speech – Tightening the throat tissue also helps your palate close better when speaking. Your voice may sound clearer and you have less nasally speech.
Decreased Sinus Congestion – Opening your nasal airways makes breathing through your nose easier. This reduces chronic sinus congestion.
Less Sore Throats – With your throat and mouth staying closed when sleeping, you have less dryness and wake up with fewer sore throats.
Confidence Boost – Many patients feel more confident overall when they look and feel refreshed from better sleep. No more dozing off mid-conversation!
For thousands of people, Solea has been life changing. They finally wake up feeling energized and get quality sleep next to their happy partner.
FAQ’s
How long do results last?
For most patients, the improvements in breathing are permanent. Your collagen matrix remodels to support your new enlarged airway long term. That said, as with any procedure, some regression can occur over 5-10 years. Follow up touch ups are quick and help maintain the benefits.
Is the procedure painful?
Thanks to numbing medication, most patients feel only mild discomfort during treatment. Your throat may be swollen and tender for several days after but this resolves quickly.
When can I resume normal activities?
You can drive yourself home and return to work or normal routines immediately. Strenuous exercise should be avoided for at least 3 days.
How many sessions will I need?
Candidates with minor to moderate sleep apnea and thinner throat tissue see great improvement after just 1 to 3 sessions. Those with severe OSA, obesity or lots of excess tissue may need 4 or more treatments for desired results. Your dentist will advise how many visits are recommended in your unique case.
Can Solea be combined with other treatments?
Yes, Solea laser snoring treatment works well alongside other therapies like oral appliances or CPAP machines. Used together, they may improve compliance and let you use CPAP at lower pressures.
Is It Covered by Insurance?
Contact your insurance provider directly to verify your policy’s coverage details for sleep apnea treatments. Provide them with the specific CPT codes your dentist provides. They will confirm what percentages are covered.
For example, your plan may cover:
- 80% of the surgeon’s fees
- 70% of the facility fees
- 50% to 80% of the anesthesia fees
Even partial coverage can add up to major savings off your total bill. Well worth looking into!
Dr. Anthony Grados Forestville may also offer in-house payment plans on remaining balances to make Solea even more affordable. Just ask what financing options are available when scheduling a consultation.
You can also take our free online quiz to see if you’re a good candidate for a Solea Sleep Treatment.
Could My Snoring Be Sleep Apnea? Take Our FREE Quiz and Find Out!
