When there is an obstruction to the flow of air through the passages at the back of the mouth and nose, snoring sounds are produced. This is a collapsible area of the airway where the tongue and upper throat meet the soft palate and uvula. Snoring results when these structures strike each other and vibrate while breathing during sleep. Forty-five percent of normal adults snore at least occasionally, and up to twenty-five percent are habitual snorers.
What is an injection snoreplasty?
An injection snoreplasty is a non-surgical treatment for snoring without sleep apnea or cessation of breath where a hardening agent is injected into the patient's upper palate. Initially introduced by ENT researchers from Walter Reed Army Medical Center, their findings indicated that an injection snoreplasty may reduce the loudness as well as the incidence rate of primary snoring.
After an injection snoreplasty, patients are send home and most return to work or resume normal activities the next day. Although the snoring may continue for a few days, both intensity and frequency should eventually lessen. Additional treatments are sometimes needed to achieve optimum benefits. If sleep apnea is suspected following the procedure, a post-procedure sleep test may be administered to fully evaluate the cause and effects.
