New Laser Treatment May Help Those Dealing With Snoring, Sleep Apnea

UPLAND (CBSLA.com) — Upland Dentist Dat Nguyen is an expert at fixing battered teeth, but he's seeing more of his patients ask for help with their snoring and sleep apnea.

Like patient Kurt Edwards, who's one of the first to try a new treatment Nguyen says can help provide a better night's sleep. It's a laser procedure called NightLase.

Edwards says his snoring can be so loud it sometimes startles him awake. For the past 12 years, he's worn a mask used to treat sleep apnea at night to help quiet and ease his breathing.

But when this frequent business traveler dozes off in flight, "people on planes will mention it. It was a nice sleep for me, but not for anyone else."

Edwards hopes NightLase will be the cure.

Nguyen says he's the first Southern California dentist to be trained to use it.

The laser treatment claims to tighten the bulky tissue at the roof of the mouth and near the tonsils that flaps around and causes constriction of the air passage.

Nguyen says he believes in NightLase because he's tried it on his family, which has a pattern of sleep apnea.

He first performed the procedure on his mother, who has severe sleep apnea, and on his 11-year-old son.

NightLase "helped her a little bit" and his son's snoring is "doing better."

The dentist even got NightLase done on himself. He says his results were what really sold him on it.

"I wake up early in the morning, and then I feel refreshed," Nguyen said.

The treatment involves three sessions over a few months. The series costs $1,200.

As for Edwards, it will be two weeks before he'll start to see signs of improvement.

Nguyen says results vary so there are no guarantees.

Edwards is OK with that because "even a lessening would be a real improvement in my life."

The doctor says side effects can include a mild sore throat. He says the procedure isn't right for everybody and urges those interested to consult a dentist or ear, nose and throat doctor.

To reach Nguyen at Upland Laser Dental Center go to uplandlaserdentalcenter.com.

Produced by Gerri Shaftel Constant, CBS2 Medical Producer.