Skip to main content
Alpine Airway Wellness
Request
In this collection

Sleep & Airway

View all Sleep & Airway resources

NightLase® for Snoring

A gentler approach to snoring.

NightLase® is a gentle, non-invasive Fotona laser option used with the goal of reducing snoring in selected patients. There is no surgery, no anesthesia and nothing to wear at night. It is also not a cure for sleep apnea — and we will tell you plainly if that is the conversation you should be having instead.

Request an AppointmentSleep & Airway Care
A woman sleeping calmly on her side in a softly lit bedroom

What it is

Quiet, in-office, and nothing worn at bedtime.

01

Non-invasive

No incisions, no anesthesia and no appliance worn at night. Gentle laser energy is applied to the soft tissue of the palate and throat area.

02

In-office

Treatment is performed in our Alpine office. Most people return to their normal day afterward, though your clinician will review what to expect for you.

03

Selective

It is considered for specific situations — not offered as a routine solution, and not appropriate for everyone who snores.

How it works

Soft tissue, gently warmed.

The mechanism is simple to describe and slow to show itself. Change, when it happens, is gradual.

Gentle laser energy

The Fotona laser delivers controlled thermal energy to soft tissue with the intention of stimulating a tightening response over time.

Soft palate focus

Snoring often involves vibration of relaxed soft tissue in the palate and throat during sleep. NightLase targets that tissue rather than the jaw or teeth.

A gradual response

Any change develops over a period of time rather than immediately, and the degree of change varies between individuals.

No device to wear

Unlike an oral appliance or CPAP, there is nothing to put in or on at bedtime. That appeals to some patients and is irrelevant to others.

Important context

What NightLase is not.

NightLase is not a treatment for sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is a medical condition diagnosed by a physician through sleep testing. NightLase is used with the goal of reducing snoring. It is not a cure for OSA and does not replace medically indicated therapy.

Snoring is not always harmless

Snoring can occur with or without obstructive sleep apnea. We screen and refer rather than treating snoring as a cosmetic nuisance, because treating the sound without evaluating the cause can mask a medical concern.

Your physician stays involved

If you have a diagnosis, or if screening suggests you should be evaluated, we coordinate with your sleep physician. We do not advise anyone to stop a prescribed therapy.

Candidacy

Who it may suit — and who it doesn’t.

Often discussed when

  • Snoring that has been evaluated, with obstructive sleep apnea screened for or ruled out by a physician
  • Preference for an approach that does not involve wearing a device nightly
  • Difficulty tolerating other options, discussed alongside — not instead of — medical care
  • Realistic expectations about a variable, non-guaranteed response

Not appropriate when

  • Untreated or suspected obstructive sleep apnea without medical evaluation
  • Looking for a replacement for medically indicated CPAP or oral appliance therapy
  • Expecting a cure, a permanent result or a guaranteed outcome
  • Health, tissue or medication factors your clinician determines make treatment inappropriate

Specific contraindications, health history factors and treatment restrictions are determined during your consultation. We don’t publish a generic list here.

What to expect

From consultation to review.

  1. 01

    Consultation & screening

    We review your sleep history, snoring pattern, symptoms and any testing you already have, and screen for signs that warrant medical evaluation.

  2. 02

    Airway & tissue evaluation

    An examination of the palate, throat, nasal breathing, tongue posture and jaw relationship to see whether NightLase is a reasonable option.

  3. 03

    Referral where appropriate

    If sleep apnea has not been ruled out, or nasal obstruction stands out, we coordinate a referral before proceeding.

  4. 04

    Treatment visits

    NightLase is delivered as a series of in-office sessions. The number of sessions, spacing and appointment length are set by your clinician for your situation.

  5. 05

    Review

    We check in on how you and your sleep partner are experiencing your nights, and discuss whether further sessions or a different approach make sense.

Session counts, intervals, appointment length and aftercare are set by your clinician for your situation rather than published as a fixed protocol.

An adult sleeping peacefully in a bright, quiet bedroom

Setting expectations

Honest about what we can’t promise.

We cannot guarantee that NightLase will reduce your snoring, and results are not permanent. Response varies with anatomy, tissue, nasal breathing, weight, alcohol and sleep position — and some people simply do not respond.

What we can commit to is proper screening first, a clear explanation of what is realistic, and a willingness to say that a different option — or a physician — is the better answer.

Working together

Snoring gets screened, not just treated.

Before any snoring treatment, we look for the signs that suggest obstructive sleep apnea should be evaluated by a physician: witnessed pauses in breathing, gasping, unrefreshing sleep, daytime sleepiness and related symptoms.

When those are present, we refer. When nasal breathing is the limiting factor, an ENT evaluation may come first. Treating the sound while leaving the cause unexamined is not care we are comfortable providing.

Related care

Where NightLase sits among the options.

Snoring

Why snoring happens, how it differs from sleep apnea, and how the cause is evaluated before anything is recommended.

Learn more about snoring and its causes →

Sleep Screening & Testing

How at-home screening identifies patterns worth evaluating — and why it is not a diagnosis.

Explore Sleep Screening →

Adult Sleep & Airway

The wider picture of how breathing, sleep and dental structure fit together for adults.

Explore Sleep & Airway Care →

Alternatives to CPAP

A balanced look at the options discussed when CPAP is not working, and where your physician stays in charge.

Explore CPAP Alternatives →

Oral Appliance Therapy

A custom device for snoring and, in appropriate cases, diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea.

Explore Oral Appliance Therapy →

Myofunctional Therapy

Exercise-based support for tongue posture, lip seal and breathing patterns, often used alongside other care.

Explore Myofunctional Therapy →

Adult Expansion

When arch width, tongue space and jaw relationship are part of the structural picture for an adult.

Explore Adult Expansion →

Alpine, Utah

Snoring care for Utah County.

Alpine Airway Wellness serves patients from Alpine, Highland, American Fork, Lehi, Cedar Hills, Pleasant Grove, Draper and throughout Utah County who want snoring taken seriously — screened properly, explained honestly, and coordinated with their physicians when that is what the situation calls for.

Questions

Questions we hear about NightLase.

What is NightLase®?
NightLase is a non-invasive laser protocol delivered with a Fotona laser. Gentle laser energy is applied to the soft tissue of the palate and throat area with the goal of reducing snoring. It involves no incisions, no anesthesia and no device worn during sleep.
Does NightLase cure sleep apnea?
No. Obstructive sleep apnea is a medical condition that is diagnosed and managed by a physician. NightLase is used with the goal of reducing snoring and is not a cure for sleep apnea, nor a replacement for medically indicated CPAP, oral appliance therapy or other prescribed treatment.
Can I stop using CPAP if I have NightLase?
No — not on our advice. Any change to a prescribed sleep apnea therapy is a decision for your physician, usually with follow-up testing. We do not recommend stopping medically indicated treatment.
How does it work?
Snoring commonly involves vibration of relaxed soft tissue during sleep. NightLase applies controlled laser energy to that tissue with the intention of encouraging a tightening response over time. Response is gradual and varies from person to person.
Is it painful?
It is described as a non-invasive treatment with a warming sensation rather than a surgical procedure. Your clinician will review what you should expect during and after your specific sessions.
How many sessions will I need?
NightLase is delivered as a series of sessions rather than a single visit. The number of sessions, the spacing between them and the length of each appointment are determined by your clinician for your situation — we do not publish a fixed schedule, because it is not one-size-fits-all.
How long do results last?
Any change is not permanent, and how long it lasts varies. Some patients discuss periodic follow-up treatment. Your clinician will talk through what maintenance may look like rather than promising a duration.
Will it definitely reduce my snoring?
No outcome can be guaranteed. Some people and their partners notice a meaningful difference, some notice a modest one, and some do not respond. We are direct about that before treatment rather than afterward.
Is there downtime?
NightLase is described as a non-invasive treatment without the recovery associated with surgery. Specific aftercare, eating or activity guidance for your treatment will be given by your clinician.
Who is not a candidate?
Suitability depends on your health history, medications, tissue condition and whether sleep apnea has been evaluated. Anyone with untreated or suspected obstructive sleep apnea needs medical evaluation first. Specific contraindications are determined during your consultation rather than listed generically here.
Do I need a sleep study first?
If sleep apnea has not been screened for or ruled out, medical evaluation comes before treating snoring. Snoring can be a symptom of a condition worth diagnosing, and we would rather refer than treat around it.
Can NightLase be combined with other treatment?
Sometimes. It may be discussed alongside myofunctional therapy, nasal treatment or other care. Any combination involving diagnosed sleep apnea is coordinated with your physician.
How is it different from an oral appliance?
An oral appliance is a custom device worn every night that supports the lower jaw position, and it is a recognized option for diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea in appropriate cases. NightLase is an in-office soft-tissue laser treatment aimed at snoring, with nothing worn at night. They serve different purposes.
Will my partner notice a difference?
Partners are often the ones who report change first, when change occurs. We usually ask both of you what the nights are actually like, before and after.
Does insurance cover NightLase?
Coverage for snoring-focused laser treatment is uncommon and varies by plan. Our team reviews your benefits and gives you expected costs in writing before treatment begins.
How do I find out if it is right for me?
Start with a consultation in Alpine. We will screen your snoring properly, evaluate the dental and airway side, explain whether NightLase is reasonable for you, and be clear about what belongs with your physician.

Clinically reviewed by Dr. Brittany Johansen. This page is general education, not a diagnosis or a treatment plan.

We see patients at our Alpine, Utah office, including families from Highland, Cedar Hills, American Fork, Lehi and across Utah County.

Curious whether NightLase fits your situation?

A consultation in Alpine, Utah is the place to find out. We’ll screen your snoring properly, look at the airway and dental side, and tell you honestly whether this is the right option — or whether something else is.

Request an Appointment