Salivary Glands and Parotidectomy
Saliva plays an important part in lubricating your mouth, assisting in swallowing, protecting your teeth against bacteria and aids in food digestion. We have major glands - parotid and submandibular, on each side of the mouth, and the rest of the mouth and throat are covered by minor microscopic glands, also making saliva. It is possible for any of these glands to become infected (a condition known as sialadenitis), form a stone(sialolithiasis), or develp a tumor (benign or cancerous). Sialadenitis can result from either a bacterial or viral infection and often occurs due to a decrease in the flow of saliva. This decrease may be a result of blockage, inflammation or a “stone” in the gland.
Some of the symptoms of a salivary gland or mass infection include:
- Constant abnormal or foul taste in your mouth
- Inability to fully open your mouth
- Discomfort or pain when eating or talking
- Dry mouth
- Redness or swelling over your jaw and in front of your ears, below your jaw, or on the bottom of your mouth
- Swelling and pain of your face or neck that gets worse with eating, especially sour foods
- Signs of infection, such as fever or chills
- Lumps, bumps, masses or pain in your cheek, neck, under your tongue
- Facial numbness or difficulty moving the face (asymmetry, paralysis, weakness)
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you may need to seek medical and/or surgical treatment. Dr. Michael Yerukhim develops detailed treatment care programs for each patient experiencing these issues.
He will review possible treatments, medical therapies and in some cases, may recommend surgery to correct the problem. If surgery is indicated, our salivary gland surgery expert - Dr. Yerukhim - will guide you through the process so that you can ensure the optimal result with these challenging, intricate, but very rewarding procedures.
To find out what treatment is right for you, contact our office at 440-816-2776.