Snoring and Sleep Apnea
The specialty of Snoring and Sleep Apnea is one of our areas of expertise at Pacific ENT Medical Group. It encompasses a wide range of disorders that are often interrelated. Our specialists provide a range of advanced treatments for people who suffer from loud snoring, lack of sleep and constructive sleep apnea.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a common condition in the United States. It can occur when the upper airway becomes blocked repeatedly during sleep, reducing or completely stopping airflow. This is known as obstructive sleep apnea. If the brain does not send the signals needed to breathe, the condition may be called central sleep apnea.
Snoring/Snoring Services and Conditions
- Inspire for Sleep Apnea
- Pillar Implants
- Mandibular Repositioning Devices
- Loud Snoring
- Sleep Apnea (obstructive breathing)
- Snoring Treatments
Snoring Treatments
Nasal allergy, infection or deformity; enlargement of the tonsils and adenoids; narrowing of the airway by the palate (roof of mouth) or base of tongue may be causes of snoring.
Treatment options include:
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) – is surgery for treating obstructive sleep apnea. It tightens flabby tissues in the throat and palate, and expands air passages.
Thermal Ablation Palatoplasty (TAP) – refers to procedures and techniques that treat snoring and some patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Different types of TAP include bipolar cautery, laser, and radiofrequency. Laser Assisted Uvula Palatoplasty (LAUP) treats snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea by removing the obstruction in the airway. A laser is used to vaporize the uvula and a specified portion of the palate in a series of small procedures in a doctor’s office under local anesthesia. Radiofrequency ablation utilizes a needle electrode to emit energy to shrink excess tissue in the upper airway including the palate and uvula (for snoring), base of the tongue (for obstructive sleep apnea), and nasal turbinates (for chronic nasal obstruction).
Genioglossus and hyoid advancement – is a surgical procedure for the treatment of sleep apnea. It prevents collapse of the lower throat and pulls the tongue muscles forward, thereby opening the obstructed airway.
If surgery is too risky or unwanted, the patient may sleep every night with a nasal mask that delivers air pressure into the throat; this is called continuous positive airway pressure or “CPAP”.
A chronically snoring child should be examined for problems with his or her tonsils and adenoids. A tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy may be required to return the child to full health.
Inspire hypoglossal nerve stimulator – Inspire works inside your body with your natural breathing process. It delivers mild stimulation to key airway muscles, allowing the airway to remain open during sleep Inspire is controlled by a small handheld sleep remote.