Snoring Institute of Pennsylvania

Snoring Solutions

Welcome to The Snoring Institute of Pennsylvania .  If you are visiting our site, you or someone you care about is affected nightly by habitual snoring.  We developed The Snoring Institute of Pennsylvania in response to the large number of our patients and their loved ones that felt trapped by snoring. Snoring not only disrupts an individual’s sleep pattern, but night after night it affects loved ones, whose sleep also becomes disrupted.  This leads to relationship distress and loss of productivity at home and work.

Years ago the treatments for snoring involved very invasive surgeries, resulting in a high level of post-operative discomfort. Today, treatment of many medical conditions, including snoring, has evolved to offer patients minimally invasive procedures.  In turn, newer therapies are being prescribed to gain equal or superior results with a quick and virtually painless recovery. 

Our mission at The Snoring Institute of Pennsylvania  is to help our patients treat their habitual snoring with the most state-of-the art and effective methods.  The science of why we snore and the therapies best to treat each individual are constantly evolving. We are dedicated to advancing these treatments and are committed to offering the highest level of care to our patients.

Sleep Apnea

People with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have disrupted sleep and low blood oxygen levels. When obstructive sleep apnea occurs, the tongue is sucked against the back of the throat. This blocks the upper airway and air flow stops. When the oxygen level in the brain becomes low enough, the sleeper partially awakens, the obstruction in the throat clears and the flow of air starts again, usually with a loud gasp.

Repeated cycles of decreased oxygenation lead to very serious cardiovascular problems. Additionally, these individuals suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness, depression, and loss of concentration.

Some patients have obstructions that are less severe called Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS). In either case, the individuals suffer many of the same symptoms.

The first step in treatment resides in recognition of the symptoms and seeking appropriate consultation. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons offer consultation and treatment options.

In addition to a detailed history, the doctors will assess the anatomic relationships in the maxillofacial region. With cephalometic (skull x-ray) analysis, the doctors can ascertain the level of obstruction. Sometimes a naso-pharyngeal exam is done with a flexible fiber-optic camera. To confirm the amount of cardiovascular compromise and decreased oxygenation levels, a sleep study may be recommended to monitor individuals overnight.

There are several treatment options available. An initial treatment may consist of using a nasal CPAP machine that delivers pressurized oxygen through a nasal mask to limit obstruction at night. One of the surgical options is a uvulo-palato-pharyngo-plasty (UPPP), which is performed in the back of the soft palate and throat. A similar procedure is sometime done with the assistance of a laser and is called a Laser Assisted uvulo-palato-plasty (LAUP). In other cases, a radio-frequency probe is utilized to tighten the soft palate. These are procedures usually performed under light intravenous sedation in the office.

In more complex cases, the bones of the upper and lower jaw may be repositioned to increase the size of the airway (Orthognathic surgery). This procedure is done in the hospital under general anesthesia and requires 1 to 2 days overnight stay in the hospital.

OSA is a very serious condition that needs careful attention and treatment. Most major medical plans offer coverage for diagnosis and treatment.