Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common, but serious, breathing disorder characterized by breathing repeatedly stopping and starting during sleep. This often leads to poor oxygen saturation and poor quality sleep. Loud snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, dry mouth and other common diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and acid reflux are typically associated with OSA. A take-home sleep study is often the first line to detect sleep disordered breathing. Here at Galleria Smile Designs, we partner with an ENT group to provide take home sleep studies and ENT/Sleep MD evaluations and treatments such as CPAP prescriptions. Ask us about this unique service provided at the dental office!

Upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) is a sleep-related breathing disorder similar to Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), but usually presents without the severe oxygen drops, daytime fatigue, insomnia and headaches. It is characterized by narrow airways and elongated soft palates which increase airway resistance causing snoring and other sleep disturbances. 

Soft tissue ablation can be an incredible tool to help stop snoring at night. It is a minimally invasive treatment utilizing CO2 laser therapy on the soft palate to promote collagen contraction (tighten the tissue). It targets soft tissue laxity, which is one of the most common causes of snoring and upper airway resistance syndrome.