Implants For Snoring

Palatal Implants

As of 2010, the only true implant treatment on the market was the palatal implant. It consists of three small polyester implants placed in the soft palate with the patient under local anesthesia during a single office visit. The result is a stiffer soft palate and a reduction in tissue vibration. Minor complications have been reported in about 1 percent of cases. Complications are typically temporary and include a scratchy throat, voice change, swelling, infection, and allergic reaction.

Injection Snoreplasty

Injection snoreplasty involves injecting the patient's soft palate with a sclerotherapy agent, which stiffens or hardens part of the soft palate. According to clinical results published in 'Otolaryntology -- Head and Neck Surgery,' this simple procedure involves minimal cost and pain. On average, patients receive 1.8 treatments before they achieve the desired results. Ninety-two percent of patients reported a noticeable decrease in snoring.

Other Options

Surgical laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty, in which a surgeon removes the uvula with a laser, is also used to treat sleep apnea.Another surgical option is the Repose tongue-suspension procedure, which involves placing a small screw in the jaw to prevent the tongue from blocking the airway during sleep.Radio-frequency tissue ablation, or somnoplasty, involves shrinking the uvula with radio frequencies. It is similar to the newer Coblation-Channeling procedure, which also uses radio frequencies to the same end.Depending on the cause of the snoring, nasal surgery may also be suggested.