Snoring & Sleep Apnea Services in Atlanta, GA

Do you know that approximately 45% of adults snore occasionally at some point throughout their lives? Furthermore, 25% are habitual snorers.

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Regarding gender, do you know that problem snoring is more frequent and common in males compared to females? Actually, people who are overweight are more susceptible to problem snoring, and it typically worsens with age.

If you (or your loved one) are a problem snorer, you should not dismiss it as just annoying snoring. Rather, snoring can be an indication of obstructed breathing, which can cause significant complications if not treated.

We invite you to seek snoring or sleep apnea treatment from our otolaryngologist doctors at any of our locations in Lawrenceville, Johns Creek, Dacula, and Braselton.

What Causes Snoring?

If there is an obstruction to the free flow of air throughout the passages at the back of the mouth and nose, you will hear the noisy snoring sounds. Specifically, this is the collapsible area of the airway. It is located where the tongue and upper throat meet the soft palate and uvula.

When these structures come in contact with each other and vibrate while breathing, snoring will occur.

If children snore often, this could potentially be a sign of tonsil and/or adenoid problems. In this case, it is important for the child to get examined by an otolaryngologist. He or she may recommend an adenoidectomy or a tonsillectomy to fix the snoring problem.

Additional causes of snoring

Poor Muscle Tone in the Tongue and Throat

If the muscles become too relaxed, the tongue will fall backwards into the airway or the throat muscles in order to draw in from the sides into the airway. It is natural for some relaxation to occur while sleeping. However, it may become a problem if heightened with alcohol or drugs that may cause sleepiness.

Excessive Bulkiness of Throat Tissue

If children have large tonsils or adenoids, chances are high that they will be snorers. People who are overweight tend to have extra soft tissue in the neck, and this can lead to airway narrowing. It is important to note that tumors or cysts are often rare causes of airway narrowing.

Long Soft Palate and/or Uvula:

A long palate will narrow the opening from the nose into the throat. When someone is practicing relaxed breathing, the excessive soft palate length (and/or uvula) mimics a noisy flutter valve, which causes snoring.

Obstructed Nasal Airways

When someone’s nose is blocked or stuffed, it requires extra effort to pull the air through the nose. This process creates an exaggerated vacuum in the throat. The vacuum pulls the floppy throat tissues together, and this causes snoring sounds. Therefore, snoring may potentially only occur during hay fever season, or if someone has a cold or a sinus infection.

Furthermore, if someone has a deformity of the nose or nasal septum (deviated septum- “a deformity of the wall that separates one nostril from the other”), this can cause an obstruction (and lead to snoring). Chronic nasal obstruction and breathing difficulty can also be evaluated and treated through our services to help improve nighttime airflow and reduce snoring symptoms.

Why is Snoring Serious?

Snoring can be serious for social and medical reasons. Socially speaking, the snorer’s bed partner can become very agitated or ridicule the snorer. Also, snoring can cause many sleepless, restless nights for the bed partner, not to mention fatigue.

Medically speaking, snoring disturbs the natural sleep patterns a person should experience. Therefore, the snorer never has adequate rest. Also, snoring can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA, if left untreated, can lead to dangerous, long-term health complications.

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

  • Multiple episodes of breathing pauses which are greater than 10 seconds at a time— this is OSA.
  • OSA is due to upper airway narrowing or collapse.
  • Once the airway narrows or collapses, lower amounts of oxygen enter the blood. This, in turn, causes the heart to work harder.
  • OSA causes a person to experience disrupted sleep patterns, not the natural sleep cycle. Inadequate sleep makes people feel poorly rested, even though he or she spent a lot of time in bed.
  • Sleep apnea sufferers may experience such episodes approximately 30-300 events per night. OSA sufferers must sleep lightly, while keeping the throat muscles tense, so that the airflow can continue through to the lungs.
  • Poor rest can lead to impaired job performance, and also lead to dangerous and hazardous situations for a sleep apnea sufferer to drive or operate equipment.
  • If left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea sufferers are at higher risk of strokes, heart attacks, diabetes, and other medical issues.

How do You Evaluate Heavy Snoring?

If you or a loved one snores heavily, it is best to seek medical help right away.

How do you determine if you snore heavily? Answer: if you snore constantly when laying down in any position; or if your snoring negatively impacts your bed partner’s sleep.

If you find yourself in this situation, seek help from an otolaryngologist. He or she will conduct a thorough examination of the throat, palate, nose, mouth, and neck. A fiberoptic scope will be used to complete this examination. This exam can determine the underlying causes of snoring— a nasal allergy, nasal obstruction, infection, and/or enlargement of adenoids and tonsils.

In addition, a sleep study may be necessary to determine if OSA is the cause of the snoring. The sleep study can be conducted in your home or in a laboratory.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, it is advised to get evaluated for possible OSA:

  • daytime sleepiness
  • daytime fatigue
  • heart disease
  • high blood pressure
  • history of a stroke
  • witnessed episodes of breath pauses or apnea while sleeping

Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment Options

Treatment for heavy snorers will depend on the diagnosis and the level(s) of upper airway narrowing. For some patients, more than one area can be involved. For patients whose snoring is related to chronic sinus inflammation or persistent nasal airway issues, treatment options such as Balloon Sinuplasty may help improve breathing and sleep quality.

There are a few different ways to treat OSA or snoring, and sometimes, various treatments are recommended by an otolaryngologist head and neck surgeon.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure—CPAP

One treatment option for obstructive sleep apnea sufferers is a CPAP machine. Many patients respond very well to this nose appliance sleep apnea treatment. The CPAP device will open the person’s airway with a small amount of positive pressure while sleeping. He or she will wear a nasal mask while sleeping. The CPAP is typically the first choice of treatment for patients.

Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation

Inspire therapy is a breakthrough implantable treatment option for people with obstructive sleep apnea who are unable to use or get consistent benefit from CPAP.

If you’d like to learn more about the Inspire sleep apnea treatment option, visit the Inspire website.

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty— UPPP

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty is surgery performed in order to treat snoring and OSA. The procedure will remove excess soft palate tissue. This will open up the airway. Additionally, the remaining tissue will stiffen up as it heals, which will minimize tissue vibration (thus decreasing or eliminating snoring). If the air passageway needs to be opened up even more, a tonsillectomy can be performed at the same time of a Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty surgery.

Thermal Ablation Procedures

This type of procedure will recede the tissue bulk in the nasal turbinates, soft palate, and/or the tongue base. Thermal ablation procedures can be used to treat OSA and snoring problems.

Different types of thermal ablation procedures include: laser, bipolar cautery, and radio frequency. The procedures are usually completed in the operating room or during a doctor office visit. There is a chance that a few treatments will be required.

Soft Palate Treatment Methods

There are a couple of methods that will increase the stiffness of the soft palate, but will not remove the tissue. One method is to inject a substance that will cause stiffness in the injected area near the uvula. The second method is the insertion of stiffening rods, called Pillar implants, into the soft palate.

Genioglossus and hyoid advancement

Genioglossus and hyoid advancement is a type of sleep apnea surgery to treat this condition. The surgery will prevent the collapse of the lower throat, and it will pull the tongue muscles forward. The result is an opened, unobstructed airway.

A Custom-fitted Oral Appliance

Like the CPAP option, the custom-fitted oral appliance is a great treatment method for those who do not want surgery. The oral appliance will reposition the lower jaw forward. A snoring doctor or sleep apnea specialist who has expertise in sleep dentistry can create a custom-fitted oral mouthpiece for you.

Weight Loss

For some patients who lost a significant amount of weight, their OSA and snoring problems improved. One more reason to lose weight!

What Should You Do Now?

Do you need to get evaluated for your snoring problems? Do you need to rule out potential OSA and/or receive proper sleep apnea solutions?

Just call Northeast Atlanta ENT at any one of our offices (Lawrenceville, Johns Creek, Dacula, and Braselton) to schedule an appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions about Snoring & Sleep Apnea

How do I know if my snoring is just snoring or actually sleep apnea? 

The biggest red flags for sleep apnea rather than simple snoring are witnessed pauses in breathing, gasping or choking sounds during sleep, and daytime sleepiness despite a full night in bed. Loud, disruptive snoring plus any of those symptoms warrants a professional evaluation to rule out obstructive sleep apnea. Morning headaches, trouble concentrating, high blood pressure, and falling asleep at the wheel are also common warning signs. Simple snoring tends to be positional and doesn’t affect how you feel during the day, while OSA usually does. If a bed partner has watched you stop breathing, even once, that’s a strong signal to get a sleep study.

Do I need an in-lab sleep study, or is a home sleep test enough?

A home sleep test is usually appropriate for adults with a high pre-test likelihood of moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea and no significant heart, lung, or neurological conditions. In-lab studies are recommended when symptoms are ambiguous, when other sleep disorders are suspected, or when a home test comes back inconclusive. Home tests measure breathing, oxygen levels, and heart rate using equipment you take home for a night, and they’re more convenient and lower cost. In-lab studies also capture brain waves, sleep stages, and limb movement, so they diagnose conditions a home test can miss. Your ENT will recommend the right option after your initial exam.

Should I see an ENT or my primary care doctor first about my snoring?

Either is a reasonable starting point, but an ENT is often the more direct route when snoring is loud, chronic, or accompanied by nasal obstruction, since airway anatomy is exactly what an otolaryngologist evaluates. Your primary care doctor can also refer you for a sleep study and then send you to ENT for treatment planning. If you already know allergies, a deviated septum, enlarged tonsils, or chronic sinus issues play a role, starting with an ENT saves a step. Northeast Atlanta ENT can perform the in-office fiberoptic airway exam, order the sleep study, and coordinate treatment, from CPAP to Inspire therapy or surgical options, under one roof.

Do I need a referral from my primary care doctor to see an ENT for sleep apnea?

Most PPO plans do not require a referral to see an ENT, while many HMO and some Medicare Advantage plans do. Whether you need one depends entirely on your specific insurance plan, so call the number on the back of your insurance card or contact our office to confirm before scheduling. Northeast Atlanta ENT accepts most major insurance plans and can verify referral requirements when you call to book at 770-237-3000. If a referral is needed, your primary care doctor’s office can typically send it electronically within a day or two. Same-day and next-day appointments are frequently available.

Can allergies or chronic sinus problems cause snoring or sleep apnea?

Yes, allergies, chronic sinusitis, and nasal congestion are well-established contributors to snoring and can worsen obstructive sleep apnea by forcing you to breathe through a narrowed or blocked airway at night. Treating the underlying nasal issue often reduces snoring intensity and, in some cases, improves sleep apnea symptoms. When nasal airflow is restricted, the throat has to work harder to pull air in, which draws soft tissues together and increases vibration and collapse. Depending on the cause, options like allergy testing and treatment at our allergy services clinic, balloon sinuplasty, or repair of a nasal blockage can meaningfully change how you breathe at night.

Am I a candidate for Inspire therapy instead of CPAP?

 Inspire therapy is FDA-approved for adults 18 and older with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea who have tried CPAP and cannot tolerate it. Candidacy also depends on your body mass index, the specific type of airway collapse seen on a sleep endoscopy, and overall health, all of which are confirmed during an in-office evaluation. The device is a small, implanted stimulator that gently moves your tongue forward during sleep to keep the airway open, activated by a handheld remote at bedtime. Not everyone with sleep apnea qualifies, but for the right patient it eliminates the mask entirely. Learn more on our Inspire therapy page or call 770-237-3000 to see if you’re a candidate.

What's recovery like after UPPP or other sleep apnea surgery?

UPPP recovery typically involves significant throat pain for one to two weeks, a soft or liquid diet for the first several days, and prescription pain management. Most patients return to non-strenuous work within one to two weeks and see the full benefit on snoring and sleep apnea over the following months as tissue heals and stiffens. Less invasive procedures, thermal ablation, Pillar implants, or turbinate reduction — generally have much shorter recoveries, often just a few days of mild discomfort. Your surgeon will walk through expected timelines, activity restrictions, and follow-up sleep studies before the procedure, since recovery varies with the exact operation.

Does sleep apnea affect DOT medical certification for CDL drivers?

Yes, DOT medical examiners can require evaluation and treatment for obstructive sleep apnea before certifying a commercial driver, and untreated OSA can result in a shortened certification period or disqualification. Documented treatment, most commonly CPAP with compliance data, generally allows drivers to maintain their medical card. The FMCSA has no specific numeric threshold in federal regulation, but examiners typically follow Medical Review Board guidance flagging drivers with symptoms plus risk factors like high BMI, hypertension, or witnessed apnea. A diagnostic sleep study and confirmed treatment plan are usually what an examiner needs to see. If you drive commercially in the Gwinnett or Barrow County area, mention that when you schedule so we can prioritize your evaluation timeline.

Which Northeast Atlanta ENT location should I visit for a sleep apnea evaluation — Lawrenceville, Johns Creek, Dacula, or Braselton?

All four Northeast Atlanta ENT locations, Lawrenceville, Johns Creek (Suwanee), Dacula, and Braselton, can perform an initial snoring and sleep apnea evaluation, including the in-office fiberoptic airway exam. When scheduling, mention any specific concerns like Inspire therapy candidacy or surgical consultation so the front desk can route you to the right provider. Home sleep testing can typically be ordered from any office, while in-lab sleep studies, Inspire implantation, and more involved surgical procedures may be scheduled at specific locations or affiliated surgical centers. Call 770-237-3000 or visit our contact page to book at whichever office is most convenient.

Where can I find a sleep apnea specialist near me in metro Atlanta?

Northeast Atlanta ENT provides board-certified otolaryngology sleep apnea care at four convenient metro Atlanta locations: Lawrenceville, Johns Creek (Suwanee), Dacula, and Braselton. Call 770-237-3000 or schedule online to book an evaluation, and same-day or next-day appointments are frequently available for new sleep apnea patients. Our team evaluates snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, orders home and in-lab sleep studies, and treats the full range of options — from CPAP coordination and custom oral appliances to Inspire therapy, UPPP, and other surgical solutions. Locations: 766 Walther Road, Suite 300, Lawrenceville, GA 30046; 3915 Johns Creek Court, Suite 100, Suwanee, GA 30024; and 2089 Teron Trace, Suite 215, Dacula, GA 30019.