Er:YAG lasers are very popular in dentistry and aesthetics. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of an Er:YAG laser to perform tightening of the uvula, soft palate and surrounding tissues with a patterned laser beam using non-ablative parameters to reduce snoring and sleep apnea.
21 patients between 26 – 59 years of age were treated with an Er:YAG laser (Fidelis PlusIII d, Fotona, Slovenia). Every patient was treated three times (at 1, 15, and 45 days). A specially patterned laser beam was used at minimally invasive settings and the laser beam was repetitively fired at soft intraoral tissue. The beam was manually delivered across the target, either vertically or horizontally (depending on the region), with 8 basic passes performed across each region, followed by 4 additional “strengthening” passes. The treated tissue is thermally processed and consequently shrinks.
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