4 Snoring Surgeries That Can Help Patients

People who snore sometimes disturb their partners' sleep. Severe snoring can also diminish the quality of a person's own sleep by waking them up in the middle of the night. Doctors typically recommend non-invasive treatments to deal with unwanted snoring, but sometimes these treatments fail. Fortunately, there are surgical solutions that can help people deal with severe snoring issues. Here are four surgeries that can help people have comfortable, snoring-free nights.

1. Palatal Implant Surgery

Snoring can be caused by obstructive sleep apnea, which is a condition that occurs when a patient's airway becomes blocked during slumber. This can happen due to insufficient tension in the soft palate. Palatal implant surgery can provide structural support to a sagging palate using rigid implants. Each implant is soft and made from a woven material. This treatment is considered minimally invasive, and it may be one of the first surgeries that your doctor asks you to consider.

2. Maxillomandibular Advancement

People who suffer from snoring may also benefit from maxillomandibular advancement surgery. This surgery changes the position of a patient's jaw to improve airflow during sleep. Surgeons may reposition a person's upper jaw, lower jaw, or both jawbones, depending on a patient's needs and the anatomy of their face. MMA can require a lengthy recovery process, but patients suffering from jaw deformations can benefit from this procedure.

3. Partial Glossectomy

The tongue can also play a role in snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. If your doctor determines that your tongue is the cause of your snoring, they may recommend a partial glossectomy. A partial glossectomy can help people who snore due to an enlargement of the tongue by removing a portion of the tongue. This procedure is performed while a patient is asleep under general anesthesia. A surgeon will partially trim the back of the tongue to make more room in a patient's mouth and throat. Your surgeon will be careful to avoid damaging the blood vessels and nerves located in this area with the help of an ultrasound.

4. Hyoid Suspension

Sometimes, a person's tongue causes snoring not due to enlargement but because of the position of the tongue. Your doctor can use a surgery called hyoid suspension to reposition your tongue. During this procedure, your hyoid bone will be detached and moved forward. This surgery is minimally invasive since it does not affect the vocal cords and other structures in the throat.

For more information on snoring surgery, contact a professional near you.


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