There are many snoring treatment options available to those who snore regularly. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, about 30 percent of women and 45 percent of men snore habitually. This happens when the soft tissues of the upper airway are not getting adequate airflow during sleep, leading to vibrations that can keep a person — or anyone unfortunate enough to share a room with them — unable to get a good night's rest.
There is also evidence that suggests that snoring leads to the inflammation of the carotid arteries, increasing the risk of a stroke.
Snoring regularly can also be a symptom of a health condition known as sleep apnea. This is the slowing of a person's breath while sleeping or repeatedly running out of breath while asleep. People who snore regularly are advised to go in for a complete sleep evaluation. That typically includes sleep tests that can be performed at a sleep laboratory or at home.
Now, let us take a look at a few treatments that can be used to alleviate the airway restrictions that often lead to snoring:
There is a procedure called the Pillar procedure that is used to improve a patient's airflow. It consists of the placement of implants into the person's soft palate. Local anesthesia is typically administered before this procedure. The body's natural scarring response to the implant helps stiffen the palate. This leads to fewer vibrations that lead to snoring.
This option comes with little discomfort and the rates of complications are low.
During this treatment, a chemical solution is injected directly into the patient's soft palate. This leads to inflammation of the palate and the formation of scar tissue. This helps reduce the vibrations caused by snoring. The most common solution used is sodium tetradecyl sulfate. This is one of the more affordable snoring treatment options, but it is not as effective as stiffening the palate with implants. It is also a more painful option.
Certain radio waves can also be used to reduce snoring. The heat of the radio frequency is used to stiffen the patient's palate after a local anesthetic has been delivered. This option typically requires multiple treatments.
Snoring can also be caused by an enlarged tonsil or adenoids. This is more common in children. During this treatment, the patient's tonsils or adenoids are surgically removed. This often provides immediate results.
It is an outpatient treatment that requires general anesthesia. Recovery time typically takes a week to two weeks.
Nasal congestion can also lead to snoring. The nasal airways can become restricted as a result of a variety of things like septal deviation, turbinate hypertrophy, polyps and allergies. Less severe cases can be treated with a nasal spray. However, if the snoring is caused by structural issues like a deviated septum, surgery is often required.
Tired of being unable to get a good night's rest because of your snoring problem? Schedule an appointment with one of our dentists and discuss your options.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with Titan Dental Care, request an appointment in our Sterling dental office here: https://www.titandentalcare.com. Or call us at (703) 745-3227.
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