A Look at Snoring Treatments
If your own efforts to stop snoring do not help, consult your
physician or an otolaryngologist -- or a doctor for the ear,
nose, and throat. If you choose to try a dental appliance as a
snoring treatment, you will need to see a dentist specializing
in these devices. Some medical snoring treatments are continuous
positive airway pressure (CPAP), oral devices (including dental
appliances and lower jaw positioners), and surgery.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure consists of sleeping with an
air mask to maintain continuous air pressure in the throat. CPAP
is a treatment for sleep apnea, as well as for snoring.
A wide range of dental appliances, oral devices, and lower jaw
adjusters are available to alleviate snoring. Some people
experience significant improvement with these oral appliances,
which bring the lower jaw forward during sleep. Most of the
products fit inside the mouth, but some products on the market
are worn around the head and chin to adjust the position of the
lower jaw.
As far as surgery goes, Thermal Ablation Palatoplasty (TAP)
treats snoring and various types of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The
types of TAP include: laser-assisted uvula palatoplasty (LAUP)
and radiofrequency ablation (or "somnoplasty"). Laser-assisted
uvula palatoplasty (LAUP) vaporizes the uvula and a portion of
the palate with a laser in the doctor's office under local
anesthesia. LAUP effectively removes obstructions to the airway,
which may be causing snoring or sleep apnea.
Laser-Assisted Uvula Palatoplasty has a higher success rate than
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty for sleep apnea (UPPP), but it
requires a surgeon with expertise in laser procedures.
Radiofrequency ablation, or somnoplasty, shrinks excess tissue
in the upper airway with a needle electrode. For snoring, the
soft palate and uvula are reduced. For Obstructive Sleep Apnea,
the base of the tongue is reduced. For chronic nasal
obstruction, nasal turbinates are reduced. Somnoplasty does not
require general anesthesia.
According to many experts, while other snoring treatments may
help in cases of milder snoring problems, for heavy snoring,
surgically correcting obstructive conditions in the nose,
pharynx, or uvula may be the only solution.