Snoring Treatment: Solutions in the Throat
Treatment of your snoring may be targeted to the soft tissue in the back of the throat, and your snoring treatment may lie with the solution being in your throat. The loud noise associated with snoring comes from the vibration of the soft palate and the uvula. Successful reduction of snoring requires reducing the vibration of these structures, including the following:
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Removal of Enlarged Tonsils, or Tonsillectomy
If large tonsils are present, they should be removed or reduced in size. Conventional tonsillectomy is effective, but this procedure is associated with seven to ten days of postoperative throat pain and the risk of hemorrhage. Newer techniques are available to reduce the size of the tonsils without removing them, decreasing postoperative pain and bleeding risk.
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Trimming the Uvula and Soft Palate, or Laser-Assisted Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (LAUP)
A popular treatment for snoring is laser-assisted uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (LAUP). Usually performed in a doctor's office with local anesthesia, LAUP involves the use of a laser to trim the uvula and create "trenches" in the soft palate to enlarge the pharyngeal airway. In many cases, LAUP is performed as a staged procedure, requiring two or three sessions separated by six-week intervals. Although often successful, LAUP is associated with significant post procedure pain, and a possible residual sensation of dryness in the throat.
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Reducing the Vibration of Soft Tissue, or Radio-frequency Palatoplasty
A more recent and less invasive treatment for snoring is radio-frequency palatoplasty. Performed in the doctor’s office with local anesthesia, a radio-frequency probe is inserted into the soft palate, where it delivers heat that causes inflammation and scarring, reducing the vibration of the soft tissue. Discomfort following the procedure is mild, and it is treated with acetaminophen and throat lozenges. If snoring is not significantly reduced, a second radio-frequency procedure may be successful. In addition to convenience and comfort, another advantage of the radio-frequency procedure is that because no tissue is removed, there is no permanent change in throat sensation.
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Looking for treatment for your snoring? Contact our snoring center in New York, NY today, book your appointment online at Eos Sleep.
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