If you"ve heard about a procedure that uses implants to stop snoring, you may be wondering just what is involved and how this procedure actually works. We"ll answer a few questions about these here.
One of the common causes of snoring is when the tissue on the top of the mouth near the back, called the soft palate, vibrates as air passes over it. If you sleep with your mouth open, this tissue will vibrate as that breath goes in and out. It does this because the tissue is soft and sometimes there is an excessive amount of it. When considering implants to stop snoring, your doctor may be recommending small plastic pieces that go behind and underneath this tissue so as to keep it from vibrating.
Will Implants to Stop Snoring Interfere With the Mouth?
Most people who have had this procedure report that their snoring implants do not actually interfere with speaking, breathing or eating, at least not once the first few days have gone by.
The first day after the surgery is usually a little bit tricky of course. There can be some soreness and you may need to be on a soft foods diet for a day or two, but most people are able to switch back to their regular diet within a few days or so.
Speaking and breathing are also not a problem for most; as a matter of fact, most people report that they are not even aware of their implants after the first week or so.
Things to Consider Before Opting to have Surgery for Implants to Stop Snoring
Most surgical implant procedures are carried out on an outpatient basis, and the patient can typically return to work the next day. There are typically very few side effects or concerns, other than excessive bleeding in very rare cases. Doctors today are usually doing these surgeries with lasers rather than scalpels, which cuts down on the bleeding concerns considerably.
The patient of course is not allowed to drive home after the surgery and may want to rest for the day, but other than that, they are usually fine within a few hours.
All in all, implants to stop snoring are becoming very commonplace and the surgery is being improved upon every day. For snoring sufferers who have tried everything else and still have concerns, this can be a very viable, affordable, and safe option.