Snoring and oral submucous fibrosis

Forty patients above the age of 40 years with oral submucous fibrosis were studied to determine the frequency and severity of snoring. The results were compared with a controlled group of similar sex and age for presence of snoring. The present study indicates that patients with oral submucous fibrosis having a short and fixed uvula and scarred soft palate are less likely to develop snoring. Thus it is suggested that in laser surgery or in classical uvulopalatopharyngeal surgery, the uvula and soft palate should be reduced in size and volume to the extent of that found in oral submucous fibrosis.