The noisy sounds of snoring occur during sleep when there is an obstruction to the free flow of air through the passages at the back of the mouth and nose. Forty-five percent of adults snore at least occasionally and 25 percent are habitual snorers. Snoring can cause sleep deprivation for the snorer and lead to other issues like daytime drowsiness, irritability, lack of focus, and decreased libido. Treatment options can include lifestyle changes (weight loss), use of specialized devices, and surgery.

Results from a new study presented at the 2007 AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO indicate greater success for the use of a dental splint over use of a breathing mask to alleviate snoring.

Twenty snorers participated in this prospective randomized crossover trial. Each snorer received three months of treatment with a dental splint and three months of treatment with a nasal breathing mask. The Snoring Outcomes Survey (SOS) questionnaire was completed before and after each treatment. On trial completion, patients were asked to state a treatment preference for long-term therapy. Preference options were the splint, the nasal breathing mask, or neither treatment. Patients opting for the dental splint reported a greater improvement in snoring severity than those opting for the breathing mask.

Results suggest that certain disruptive snoring can be managed effectively with conservative treatments and therefore avoid surgery.

Title: Randomized Crossover Snoring Trial: MRS vs. CPAP
Authors: Stuart M. Robertson, MBChB, MRCS, Maria Murray, David Young, MPhil, PhD, CStat, John Richard Pilley, MSc, PhD, FDS RCPS, John H. Dempster, MBChB, FRCS
Date: Monday, Sep 17, 9:40 am - 9:48 am

Information for the Media:
The AAO-HNS Annual Meeting newsroom will be located in Registration East, Street Level of the Washington, DC Convention Center. Hours of operation: Saturday, September 15, 12 pm to 5 pm; Sunday - Tuesday, September 16 -18, 7:30 am to 5 pm; and Wednesday, September 19, 7:30 am to 2 pm. The newsroom serves as a work space for credentialed members of the media and credentialed public relations staff. The newsroom is managed and staffed by the AAO-HNS Communications Unit.

Source: American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (AAOHNS)