About Snoring Treatment
About Snoring Treatment
Snoring Treatment Methods
The main cause of snoring is that during sleep, particularly during deep sleep or REM sleep, muscles throughout the body including the throat and neck area relax, causing the airway to narrow.
When the airway narrows, air passing through causes surrounding tissues to vibrate, creating sound, which becomes snoring.
Therefore, ‘widening the airway’ is important in snoring treatment.
Also, when snoring becomes severe, the airway may become completely blocked, causing breathing to stop temporarily, resulting in ‘Sleep Apnea Syndrome (SAS).’
In this case, snoring can have serious health effects beyond just sound, so we recommend seeking treatment early.
Types of Snoring Treatment
There are mainly the following 6 types of snoring treatment.
- Laser Treatment
- CPAP Therapy
- Mouthpiece Therapy
- Surgical Treatment
- Medication Therapy
- Lifestyle Improvement
Laser Treatment
Laser treatment is a relatively new treatment method performed to reduce snoring, characterized by low burden on the body.
CPAP Therapy
Using a machine to keep the airway open, a mask is worn to send air into the airway to prevent snoring and apnea.
Mouthpiece Therapy
A specialized mouthpiece made by a dentist that fixes the lower jaw forward and widens the airway to reduce snoring and apnea.
Surgical Treatment
Removing excess tissue at the back of the throat to widen the airway and improve snoring.
Medication Therapy
Temporary snoring can occur when the nose or throat becomes congested due to a cold or allergy, narrowing the airway.
Lifestyle Improvement
For mild snoring, the following lifestyle improvements may improve snoring:
- Lose weight
- Reduce alcohol consumption and smoking
- Adjust sleeping position (sleep on your side)
- Improve nasal breathing with nasal strips or similar aids
About Snoring Laser Treatment ‘Snore Lase’
Our snoring laser treatment ‘Snore Lase’ is the latest laser device specifically designed for snoring treatment that can treat snoring without putting burden on the body.
Snore Lase uses two types of Yag lasers and irradiates deep layers, allowing for high effectiveness to be expected.
Furthermore, it is a highly reliable device as it has obtained certification from the US FDA (an organization with a role similar to Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare).
Snoring Treatment Fees
| Treatment Name | Details | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Snore Lase | ||
About Insurance Coverage for Snoring Treatment
Our snoring treatment is considered elective medical care.
However, it is eligible for medical expense deductions during tax filing, so the actual payment amount can be reduced.
Comparison Table of Elective and Insurance-Covered Snoring Treatment
| Our Clinic’s Snore Lase ※Elective Medical Care |
Conventional Laser Treatment ※Elective Medical Care |
Surgical Excision with Scalpel ※Insurance-Covered Treatment |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Treatment Details | After warming the throat, laser is applied to deep layers to tighten the pharynx with minimal pain and widen the airway  |
Applying laser to the soft palate and uvula tissues to tighten the pharynx and widen the airway  |
Removing excess tissue at the back of the throat with laser to widen the airwa |
| Effectiveness | Because it tightens the throat to the deep layers, effects equivalent to surgical excision can be expected |
Because only the shallow part of the throat is irradiated, the effect is weaker than Snore Lase |
Because throat tissue is removed, there is no regression and long-lasting effects can be expected |
| Advantages | Can improve snoring with almost no pain or downtim |
Less pain and shorter downtime compared to surgical treatment |
While there is no guarantee of complete cure of snoring, basically one treatment session is sufficient |
| Pain | Because our original irradiation settings minimize heat temperature, you only feel warmth with almost no pain |
Some pain is felt during the procedure. Additionally, swelling, pain, and throat discomfort may be experienced for about 3 days |
Intense pain is felt during the procedure. Additionally, throat pain and discomfort are experienced for about 2 weeks after the procedure |
| Disadvantages | Occasionally, a prickling pain may be felt during the procedure  |
The surface of the irradiated area may swell  |
Side effects such as food entering the nasal cavity may occur |
| Cost | First time ¥24,800 |
About ¥80,000~100,000 per session |
About ¥35,000 per session |
Snoring Treatment Process
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1. Examination and Counseling
First, make a reservation online or by phone! We will determine the date and time for counseling. On the day of your visit, we will check your concerns and symptoms during the counseling session and explain the treatment details.
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2. Payment of Fees
If you are satisfied with the treatment details, you will sign a contract and make the payment. At Sleep Medical Clinic, we do not charge any fees other than the treatment cost.
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3. Treatment
The treatment begins. We will perform snoring treatment with Sleep Medical Clinic’s latest laser treatment device, Snore Lase.
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4. Creation of My Page on the Web
After treatment, you can make appointments anytime from your My Page. You can also change or cancel appointments.