Snoring Treatment Information

Nasal airway obstruction is generally correctable by nasoseptal or nasoseptal pyramid (i.e. rhinoplasty) or turbinate surgery. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty with or without tonsillectomy or laser assisted uvulopalatoplasty (i.e. LAUP) or somnoplasty of the palate is very effective for palatal/uvular obstruction. Unfortunately, until recently many patients with associated retrolingual (at the base of tongue) or hypopharyngeal obstruction became surgical failures of nasal or UPPP surgery and became CPAP or BiPAP users (represents the medical apparatus, which via a nasal mask, forces air past a patient's nasal, palatal, or tongue obstruction into the lungs). If appropriately and adequately examined from the beginning, patients with multilevel airway obstruction either became CPAP or BiPAP users right after their Sleep Study (i.e. polysomnography), or were made aware of the high degree of probability of addressing surgically, obstruction at the level of the nose, palate and/or base of the tounge.  

Fortunately, the last several years have seen the introduction of two new modalities of surgical treatment, which have not only reduced the pain and discomfort associated with traditional surgery, but which also more effectively address the multilevel aspects of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. To reiterate, an adequate evaluation of an individual suffering from either snoring or true obstructive sleep apnea syndrome or both needs to not only quantify the severity of the problem, but needs to ascertain the level of obstruction. A thorough head and neck examination by a qualified specialist is mandatory and a fiber optic evaluation of the hypopharynx, larynx, palate, and nasal airway is exceedingly important when trying to ascertain the level or levels of obstruction. Other diagnostic procedures that are helpful in the diagnosis of and determination of the level of airway obstruction are radiologic studies such as cephalometrics. 

Nasal surgery is designed to improve the airflow through the nose either by straightening the septum (i.e. the midline cartilaginous/bony partition), which divides the right and left side of the nose, or by reducing the size of the inferior turbinates to similarly increase the cross-sectional area of the nose and consequently improve upon nasal airflow. 

Please download and complete our snoring questionnaire and bring it with you to your next appointment. Click HERE to download.

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For information about the Pillar Palatal Implant System, click HERE

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