DISEASES OF THE SALIVARY GLAND

DISEASES OF THE SALIVARY GLAND. Normal function and health of the mouth depend on normal function of and secretion if saliva by the major and minor salivary glands.

DISEASES OF THE SALIVARY GLAND

  Normal dependingon athe nd health of the mouth depending on the normal function of and secretion if saliva by the major and minor salivary glands.

   Failure of salivary secretion causes dry mouth which, apart from the unpleasantness of the symptoms, encourages oral infections.

   Two main conditions will be discussed.

OBSTRUCTION Of THE SALIVARY GLAND

  Obstruction is usually due to SALIVARY CACULI which occasionally forms in a salivary gland or its duct by deposition of calcium salt's around a nidus of organic material.

   Majority of the calculi form in the submandibular gland, while the sublingual and minor salivary glands account for the minority.

Signs and Symptoms of the Salivary Gland

1. Adults are mainly affected.
2. It is usually unilateral.
3. The classical symptom is a pain, relate to eating, when the smell or taste of food stimulates salivary secretion.
4. Obstruction of duct leads to infections, pain and swelling of the gland.

Treatment of the salivary gland 

  If the obstruction is sufficiently far forward in the duct stone may be milked forward and manipulated out of the duct orifice. Otherwise, the duct may have to be opened surgically in order to remove the calculi.

Other salivary gland disease includes:

 1. Ranula

These are mococeles arising from the sublingual or submandibular salivary glands ( mucoceles are salivary extravasation cysti).

  Ranula is usually unilateral and usually 2 to 3cm in diameter.

  They are soft, fluctuant and bluish in colour, a ranula is usually pained less. Sometimes it may interfere with speech or mastication. Occasionally they are large and extend across the floor of the mouth (Get its name from this characteristic ranula- like a frog)

Dry mouth(xerostomia)

This is an unpleasant condition due to inability to produce saliva. The main causes are:

1. Emotional disturbance.
2. Acute anxiety.
3. Mouth breathing.
4. Excessive smoking.
5. Neuroses.
6. Drugs ( medications) like amphitamines.
7. Disease of the salivary glands.

Treatment is by removing the causative factor.

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