|
Snoring
Snoring
Devices
to Wear
Surgery
Snoring
Snoring is caused when air intake is restricted or
obstructed and the soft palate vibrates during sleep. Note
that snoring may be associated with sleep apnea, a momentary
interruption of nighttime breathing. Since this interruption
can keep you from getting adequate rest at night, ask a
physician to examine you. For more information on the
Internet, see The Apnea
Patient's News
Treatment
There are two main
ways to treat snoring. At night, you can wear a special anti-snoring
device fabricated by your dentist. Or you can have surgery.
Top
Anti-Snoring Devices to
Wear
A dentist can construct a device that fits
over your teeth and changes the shape of your air passage and
the vibration pattern of your soft palate (located at the
back of your mouth).
Top
Surgery
Somnoplasty
Somnoplasty is a relatively new
procedure in which, after throat tissues are numbed, a small
probe is inserted into the soft palate of your throat. When
activated, the probe emits radio waves that kill cells in the
inner layer of your palate. During the following week or two
of healing, the remaining tissues shrink and a small amount of
scar tissue forms. All of this tightens the palate, reducing
its vibrations. Snoring is reduced or eliminated altogether.
Advantages
The procedure is more comfortable and
heals faster than laser surgery.
Disadvantages
There is less track record with
this procedure, so there's less predictability of success.
Laser Surgery
After throat tissues are numbed, a
laser is used to reshape the back portion of the soft palate.
This reshaping enlarges your air passage and changes the
vibration pattern of the soft palate.
Advantages
Laser surgery has a good, long-term
track record and a high predictability of success.
Disadvantages
There is greater discomfort and a
longer healing period than alternative treatments (see
somnoplasty).
This procedure is generally performed by oral surgeons or
ear, nose and throat (ENT) physicians.
Top
|
Back to Patient Education