Can surgery cure snoring?

Doctor's Answers 1

Thanks for the D2D. Yes. Snoring is due to an anatomical floppiness of the soft tissue and vibration in the upper airway. Studies have shown that most snoring originates from the vibration of the soft palate, other areas include the side walls of the mouth, the tongue base and / or epiglottis.

Snoring can be aggravated by a blocked nose, as this results in mouth breathing and mouth breathing worsens snoring.

You would need a sleep specialist to examine your upper airway with a flexible Nasoendoscope. This will enable the sleep specialist to determine where exactly is the area that vibrates during your Snoring.

The key to a successful snoring surgery is selecting the correct surgical procedure to perform for that individual patient (as every patient is different).

Similar Questions

How does one differentiate normal snoring from sleep apnea?

Thanks for the D2D. Snoring is not just noise. Not all who snore have sleep apnea, but snoring is a sign that you may have sleep apnea. In Singapore, a recent study found that 90% of those with already moderate to severe sleep apnea did not know that they had sleep apnea! Sleep apnea happens when there is a block in the airway that results in significant oxygen desaturation in the blood. To differentiate snoring from sleep apnea, a definitive sleep study is needed.

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Human

Will a Chin Strap device help with my snoring issues and sinus?

Thanks for the D2D. The reason why you might “automatically” open your mouth at night is because your nose is blocked, hence it’s a survival instinct to open your mouth to breathe. Please do not use the Chin Strap until you have seen a sleep specialist or nose doctor who will examine your nose and perhaps shrink your sinus turbinates and/or remove any obvious obstructions in the nasal passages.

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Dr Kenny Pang

ENT Doctor

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