Snoring medical therapy
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Medical Therapy
Almost all treatment for snoring revolves around clearing the blockage in the breathing passage. This is the reason snorers are advised to lose weight (to stop fat from pressing on the throat), to stop smoking (smoking weakens and clogs the throat), and to sleep on their side (to prevent the tongue from blocking the throat).
It is important, when trying to treat snoring to first identify the cause of the snoring. The treatment modality can then be specifically targeted at the identified cause of snoring in the individual case. [2]
Other forms of treatment are also available:
Dental appliances
Specially made dental appliances such as a mandibular advancement splint, which advance the lower jaw slightly, and thereby pull the tongue forward, are a preferred mode of treatment for social snoring. Typically, a dentist specializing in sleep apnea dentistry is consulted. Such appliances have been proven to be effective in reducing snoring and sleep apnea, however side effects include the possibility that a patient's bite could be altered. Typical costs for such appliances would be between USD1000 to USD3000.
"Do it yourself" DIY dental appliances are also available, which cost around USD50 to USD200. These provide the same benefits if fitted correctly. A guide to the commercially available DIY splints is at [1] (Commercial website). They are usually made from an EVA polymer, and are similar in appearance to protective mouth-guards worn for sports. One disadvantage of the cheaper devices compared to the professionally fitted devices is the difficulty in setting up the correct jaw position. An over-advanced jaw results in jaw joint pain, whilst an under-advanced jaw produces no therapeutic effect. The professionally fitted devices generally incorporate an adjustment mechanism so that jaw advancement can be easily increased or decreased after fitting. To adjust the "do it yourself" appliances it is necessary to reheat them and mold them again in the desired new position. Alternatively, given the low cost, a new appliance can be used to hold the jaw in the new position.
These DIY devices can be purchased at pharmacies in most countries (except the U.S.), or online (anywhere - though not legally in U.S.). In the U.S., the devices are considered class 2 medical devices and cannot be legally sold without a prescription. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has never made their reasons for this decision clear. Americans are, however, allowed to purchase these devices outside the US and import them for personal use. In Australia, manufacturers can obtain approval from the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) allowing the devices to be sold via normal retail channels, without the involvement of a doctor.
Possible side effects of dental appliances include Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD). TMJD is an inflammation of the temperomandibular joint (jaw joint) which can be very painful and is sometimes, although very rarely, irreversible. There is no reliable way of knowing whether a person is at risk for TMJ before they start using a dental appliance.
Positive airway pressure
A Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine is often used to control sleep apnea and the snoring associated with it. To keep the airway open, a shoebox-sized device pumps a controlled stream of air through a flexible hose to a mask worn over the nose, mouth, or both.[2]
References
- ↑ http://www.stopthatsnoring.com.au/shopping_guide_MAD.htm
- ↑ "Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)". American Academy of Otolaryngology−Head and Neck Surgery. Retrieved 2007-07-02.