Clinical content reviewed by Dr. Ash Kler, DDS ·
Snoring is the punchline of a thousand jokes and the quiet strain in a million bedrooms. What most people do not know is that some of the most effective treatments now live at the dental office, including a non-surgical laser option.
During sleep, muscles relax and the soft tissue at the back of the mouth slackens. Air moving past loose soft-palate tissue makes it vibrate; that vibration is the sound. Age, weight, alcohol before bed, and back-sleeping all loosen or narrow things further.
Snoring can be harmless noise, or the audible edge of obstructive sleep apnea, repeated breathing pauses linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, and dangerous daytime sleepiness. Gasping awakenings, witnessed pauses, morning headaches, and exhaustion despite full nights all point toward apnea, which deserves medical assessment and, often, a sleep study. Any responsible dental snoring treatment starts by screening for this, and ours does.
For palatal snoring, the most common kind, the Solea laser gently heats and tightens collagen in the soft palate, firming the tissue so it vibrates less. Treatment duration varies, the procedure is non-surgical, and patients can generally resume usual activities promptly. Individual response varies and benefits cannot be guaranteed. Duration varies by patient, and maintenance treatment may be discussed where clinically appropriate.
For diagnosed mild-to-moderate apnea, and for snorers whose issue sits deeper than the palate, a custom-fitted appliance holds the lower jaw slightly forward during sleep, keeping the airway open. It is silent, travels in a shirt pocket, and is a recognized, evidence-based alternative for people who cannot tolerate CPAP.
With a short airway assessment. We examine your anatomy, screen for apnea, and tell you which treatment fits, or whether your physician should weigh in first.
Your household's quietest night might start with one assessment: (250) 372-2326.
Have questions about your own smile? Call (250) 372-2326 or request an appointment.