Before discussing potential treatments, we should ask ourselves how we define a successful treatment. Bear in mind that snoring is usually the problem of the snorer's bed partner or roommate and not the snorer himself. Therefore, "successful treatment" should be measured in the number of undisturbed nights the snorer's bed partner experiences. Each snorer defines success differently, this is why it is crucial to know what are the expectations of "curing" the snoring problem.

Non-surgical treatments

These are the main categories of non-surgical snoring treatments:

Behavioral changes
While the easiest to detect, they are also most difficult addressing. Behavioral changes include snoring which is caused by weight problems, smoking, sleeping positions, alcohol abuse, sleeping pills etc. For example, if a person starts snoring after gaining a few pounds the obvious treatment is to go on a diet eliminating the snoring cause. Sleeping pills and other tranquilizing drugs cause the muscles to relax. Often, these can cause tissue and muscles surrounding the throat area to over-relax and trigger the snoring. It might be a good idea avoiding the use of such tranquilizing medication. In similar way, one should avoid drinking alcohol, change sleeping position or quit smoking cigarettes if one of these causes the snoring problem.

Nasal medication and devices
If snoring is caused by narrow nasal passages, nasal devices and medication should be taken into consideration as a potential treatment. If the obstruction is located in the anterior nasal valve, nasal strips could help relieving this blockage by stretching open these passages. Nasal strips are usually made from a stiff strip of plastic attached to an adhesive. If positioned correctly on the bridge of the nose, these strips pull the passages outward forcing the airways open. Nasal sprays such as the saline sprays are designed to treat snoring which is caused by nasal mucosal swelling. Nasal irritation and allergies are the main reasons of this swelling. The saline spray acts to clear away any irritants present in nasal passages and also act to moisturize the mucosa without side effects. There are cases in which snoring is caused by constant nose congestion. In this case, nasal sprays which include nasal steroids and decongestants are to be used. These sprays work to shrink blood vessels in the nasal turbinates after which the airways open up. Long term use could result in an addiction which often leads to surgery. see also: Review on Snoring Sprays

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
The CPAP device is designed to treat snorers with a diagnosed OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) condition. This box-shaped box works by delivering a pressurized, constant airflow through a mask covering mouth and nose area. The pressurized airflow prevents the airway from narrowing during normal breathing operation. Following a sleep study, each CPAP device is adjusted according to the snorer's unique properties as detected during the study. CPAP is proven to have positive effects on snoring and OSA conditions. Unfortunately, The CPAP device is noisy, uncomfortable and quite loud while working. see also: CPAP

Dental devices
As previously mentioned, snoring can be the result of narrowed throat airway. In many cases, the palate and tongue are to blame due to the fact they tend to fall down the back of the throat during the night. Some dental devices are designed to hold the palate forward while some dental devices are designed to hold the jaw and tongue forward. Almost all dental devices are custom made and fitted by dentists. Only a dentist can fit these devices correctly according to the patient unique jaw structure. These devices are often referred to as Mandibular advancement splints and they are known to improve snoring in more than 70% of cases. Although dental devices have a high success rate, they also have a few disadvantages such as causing temporomandibular joint problems, excessive salivation, high cost and general discomfort.

OTC (Over The Counter) products
Many OTC stop snoring products are available on the market. Some of them are really simple to use and some are a cheaper version of a custom made device such as OTC mouthpieces which imitate the Mandibular advancement splints action. The level of effectiveness varies and what proves as effective to one person could be useless to the other. Remember, Snoring could also be a sign of an underlying medical condition. Therefore, before using any OTC product one should always consult his physician. see also: Mouthpiece

Surgical options for snoring

Surgical procedures are designed to widen any narrowed relevant area and reduce any obstructions. Snoring is often the cause of more than one anatomical area malfunction. Therefore, successful surgical treatment cannot include surgery on only one of these areas. Most surgeries are focused on the tongue, palate and uvula, and nasal passages. These surgical procedures are made in a clinic and are quite expensive. Most insurance companies classify stop snoring surgery as an elective cosmetic procedure and therefore do not offer any refund or any subsidizing. Surgery is to be taken under consideration only after conducting a formal Polysomnography and eliminating the chance of an OSA condition as the cause of snoring. When snoring is caused by sleep apnea one must start with CPAP treatment as a first step before even considering surgery. Furthermore, if OSA is the case, surgery might mask evidence of this condition and put the snorer in serious risk leaving him with an undiagnosed serious medical condition. see also: Stop Snoring Surgery


Nasal surgery options

The following treatments focus on improving narrow nasal passages:

Radio-frequency energy
Conducted in a physician's office, these radio frequency treatments are used to shrink the turbinates by creating a scar tissue which results in a more open nasal passageway. The radio frequency energy is released into the tissues using a special needle shaped wand in a 10 second burst. This procedure is repeated several times on both nasal passageways for maximal effect. The whole procedure lasts 15 minutes in which most time is spent on applying local anesthesia. Because this procedure depends on the forming of scar tissue, it takes about 3 months to full effect. However, there is a chance that the scar tissue will soften over time in which case this procedure could be repeated.

Deviated septum
The septum is the "wall" that separates the right nasal passageway from the left one. People who have a deviated septum as a result of trauma such as a broken nose or possibly some sort of birth trauma experience a constant blockage in nasal airways. This condition could be repaired by surgically removing the crooked cartilage. This kind of surgery requires general anesthesia and is performed in an operation room.

Nasal polyps
Allergies could often cause mucosal "growths" in the nose. These are referred to as nasal polyps. These polyps constantly grow over time until they are large enough to cause an airway obstruction. Once large enough, these nasal polyps generate snoring and need to be surgically removed. This surgical procedure is performed under general anesthesia in an operating room.

Oral surgery options
As previously mentioned, snoring could be the result of a long, floppy palate and uvula. The following surgical procedures revolve around the palate and uvula tissues:

Uvulectomy
Uvulectomy is the removal of the uvula. Under local anesthesia, this procedure is conducted in a doctor's clinic after which there is approximately 2 weeks of discomfort and possibly pain. Patients describe the feeling to be similar to a sore throat viral infection. The risks of Uvulectomy are pain and altered speech in guttural fricative language speakers such as Hebrew and Farsi.

Laser-Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP)
Using a special laser, the LAUP procedure trims the palate. Under local anesthesia, small cuts are made on the surface of the palate on each side which causes scars to be made. These scars work to stiffen the palate tissue thereby reducing its ability to vibrate and cause snoring. Several sessions are required for the procedure to have maximal effect and it involves some measure of pain which is controlled by pain medication.

Radio Frequency Tissue Ablation (RFTA)
This is a relatively new RF procedure and is performed under local anesthesia in a clinic. The procedure involves the creation of three tunnels in the palate using a wand shaped needle which emits RF energy for about 10 seconds into the tissue each time. The tunnels heal as scar tissues which cause the palate to stiffen up and vibrate less. More than 75% of patients report the procedure had reduced their snoring. However, there is a 29% relapse in snoring after a period of one year. This is caused by the softening of the scar tissue over time which re-obstructs the airways.

Palate implants
Palate implants are made from a non-reactive material called Dacron. This material is used for many years for heart valve surgery and fixing hernias. Inserting small Dacron implants into the uvula under local anesthesia cause the palate to stiffen up. This is made possible due to the Dacron's unique property of encouraging normal tissue to grow into it. There is a chance of an infection caused by the insertion of foreign material into the body in which the implant should be surgically removed and replaced by another. Ironically, an infection is actually a good thing because it results in a scar tissue being made which reduces vibration and stiffens the palate.