Sandy Springs Office at
The Medical Quarters
5555 Peachtree-Dunwoody Rd
Suite 125
Atlanta, GA 30342
404-257-0039

Marietta Office at
Marietta Medical Center
790 Church Street
Suite 140
Marietta, GA 30060
404-256-7525

Snoring

What causes snoring?
Snoring is a noise made by the vibration of tissue in the upper airway, i.e., your mouth, nose and the back of your throat. The key to snoring is the soft palate (the soft part of the roof of the mouth), which is believed to be a significant contributor for the 80% or more of people who can't stop snoring.1

Try this: Tilt your head back, open your mouth and pretend that you're gargling. Feel that flutter at the back of your throat? That's your soft palate.

Other causes of snoring are blockage of the nose, alcohol consumption, certain medications, sleeping on one's back and being overweight.

One in four people have a problem with chronic snoring2 and can't stop snoring on their own. Chronic snoring can even be a sign of a more serious health problem, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). On average, the bed partner of a snorer loses at least an hour of sleep every night.3 Because the partner's sleep is interrupted so frequently, it isn't deep and restful. As a result, they can be irritable, resentful, even unsafe at the wheel while driving. Sleep deprivation can also compromise the immune system and lead to low energy, decreased productivity and muddled thinking.

How is Snoring Treated?

Simple lifestyle changes may provide relief:

  • Losing extra weight
  • Sleeping on your side, instead of on your back
  • Avoiding the use of alcohol and sedatives before bed
  • Quitting smoking
  • Using nasal strips, which widen the nostrils and improve airflow

Other Treatment Options for snoring:

  • Pillar implants - In our office, three tiny inserts are placed in your soft palate to help provide support. Because no tissue is removed, there is minimal discomfort and very short recovery time, sometimes only a day!
  • We provide custom-made oral appliances to assist in the relief of snoring
  • Surgical options usually involve removing excess tissue from the throat.

The soft palate is almost always involved in chronic snoring, but there may be other factors as well, such as blockage of the nasal airway, tonsils and adenoids. During your first office visit, your doctor will examine all parts of your upper airway and assess which areas are contributing to your snoring. A treatment plan addressing your specific anatomy may include lifestyle modifications, minimally invasive or surgical treatments. Only a full examination by our board certified ENT physicians can determine the treatment best for you. If your soft palate is a factor, the Pillar Procedure may be an effective treatment option for you, because it stiffens the soft palate to reduce or eliminate the tissue vibration that can cause snoring. The Pillar Procedure can be performed as a stand-alone procedure or used in combination with other treatments and lifestyle changes to help patients stop snoring. More than 25,000 people worldwide have been treated with the Pillar Procedure. Atlanta ENT has been treating patients with the Pillar Procedure since 2003.

  1. Maurer JT, Verse T, Stuck BA, Hörmann K, Hein G. Palatal Implants for Primary Snoring: Short-Term Results of a New Minimally Invasive Surgical Technique. Otolaryngology-HNS 2005 Jan; 132(1):125-31. Read More »
  2. Maurer JT, Verse T, Stuck BA, Hörmann K, Hein G. Long-Term Results of the Pillar Palatal Implant System for Primary Snoring. Otolaryngology-HNS 2005 Oct; 133(4):573-8. Read More »
  3. Goessler UR, Hein G. Verste T, Stuck BA, Hörmann K, Maurer JT. Soft palate implants as a minimally invasive treatment for mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. Acta Otolaryngol. 2007 May; 127(5):527-31. Read More »