Your salivary glands lubricate your mouth, help you swallow, aid speech, aid in digestion and help protect your teeth against harmful bacteria. Human have three major types of salivary glands, including your sublingual, submandibular and parotid and minor salivary glands about 1000 diffuse under mucosa ,salivary glands produce about one to two liters of saliva every day.saliva is 99% water. The rest consists of proteins, enzymes, mucus and buffering agents.
Your salivary glands produce saliva and empty it into your mouth through ducts, or small openings. They lubricate your mouth and throat, aid in swallowing and digestion, and help shield your teeth from cavity-causing bacteria.
Types of salivary glands
• Minor salivary glands Most are found in the lining of the lips, the tongue, and the roof of the mouth, as well as inside the cheeks, nose, sinuses, and larynx about 800 in number • Major salivary glands o Sublingual glands: These are below either side of your tongue, under the floor of your mouth. o Submandibular glands: Located below your jaw, your submandibular salivary glands consist of two parts: the superficial lobe and the deep lobe. Like your sublingual glands, the saliva produced in your submandibular glands enter your mouth from under your tongue. o Parotid glands: Your parotid glands are just in front of your ears. Similar to your submandibular glands, your parotid glands have two parts: superficial and deep. The saliva produced by your parotid glands enters your mouth from small ducts near your upper molars.
1 FUNCTION The main salivary gland function is saliva production. Saliva plays an important role in supporting your oral and overall health. For example, saliva:
• Keeps your mouth and throat lubricated and comfortable. Moistens
food so it’s easier to swallow. • Contains an enzyme called amylase, which helps in digestion Keeps your mouth clean. • Helps reduce your risk of cavities and gum disease. • Helps maintain the pH balance in your mouth.
2 DISORDERS There are several conditions and disorders that can affect your salivary glands, including:
Salivary gland stones — made from salts found in saliva — are most likely to form if you’re dehydrated or if you take medications that cause dry mouth (xerostomia). These stones can lead to a blocked salivary gland. This can be painful, and it can result in swelling and infection.
Salivary gland infection
The medical term for salivary gland infection is sialadenitis. The majority of salivary gland infections are the result of blocked salivary glands or chronic dry mouth.
Staph infections can also result in sialadenitis. People with anorexia are especially susceptible.
Salivary gland dysfunction
Salivary gland dysfunction refers to any situation where your salivary glands don’t work as they should. In most cases, this means that your salivary glands don’t produce enough saliva. Several factors could lead to a decrease in saliva production (a condition known as dry mouth). These include:
• Certain types of infections, such as HIV and AIDS.
• Certain diseases, such as Sjögren's syndrome, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. • Some medications, like certain antihistamines, antidepressants, sedatives and drugs for Parkinson’s disease.
3 • Certain cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy to the head and neck region.
Note: Not all cases of chronic dry mouth are due to salivary gland dysfunction. Dry mouth can also be the result of dehydration, mouth breathing, stress and anxiety.
Salivary gland tumors
Most salivary gland tumors are benign (noncancerous), but sometimes, they can be malignant (cancerous).
Treatment for salivary gland tumors usually involves removing the mass. If the tumor is cancerous, further treatment is often necessary and may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy or targeted drug therapy.
What are some common symptoms of salivary gland conditions?
• dry mouth
• painful lump under the tongue
• pain that increases when eating
• lump in your cheek or under your chin
• pus that drains into your mouth • foul-smelling • difficulty eating • difficulty speaking • difficulty swallowing • general symptoms like fever, muscle aches, joint pain, headache
4 Diagnosis
• medical history and examination
• X ray : sialogram and stones
• Ct scan
5 • MRI
• Biopsy
6 Treatments • Protection : good oral hygiene , stop smoking ,well hydration • Medical by Antibiotics , IV fluid , Analgesia • Surgery for abscess, tumors, stones
7 Surgery to the minor salivary glands The type of surgery you have depends on the location of the cancer. Your surgeon removes:
• the affected gland
• some of the surrounding tissue – this may include removing the top of your mouth (palate) • nearby lymph nodes if they think there could be cancer cells in them
Major salivary gland
8 Parotid gland • The parotid glands are located in front and beneath the ear. A duct, called Stensen’s duct, drains saliva from the parotid gland into the mouth, at the area of the upper cheeks
• Position of patient during surgery .. elevate the head and tilt the face to the other side • Incision called lazy S incision
9 • Complications of surgery o Wound infection o Wound hematoma o Nerves injury like fascial expression muscles weakness, numbness in earlobe o Frays syndrome
Submandibular gland • The submandibular glands sit in the submandibular triangle, located underneath the mandible (lower jaw bone) and above the hyoid (tongue) bone. The mylohyoid muscle, a paired muscle that forms the floor of the mouth, separates a superficial and deep lobe in the gland. The submandibular duct, also called the Wharton's duct, is the excretory duct of the gland. It drains saliva from the glands at the base of the tongue.
10 • Position of patient .. extend the neck , elevate the head and mild tilt to the face to the other side • Incision 3 to 4 cm below and parallel to mandible
11 • Complication of surgery o Wound infection o Hematoma o Nerve injury like lingual nerve causing change in teste sensation , hypoglossal nerve causing tongue muscle weakness and branch of fascial nerve causing mouth deviation
Sublingual gland • These are below either side of your tongue, under the floor of your mouth. Position of the patient elevate the head ,mild flex the neck and tilt the face to the other side • Incision .intra orally parallel to the tongue
12 • Complication of surgery o Intra oral infection and abscess o Lingual nerve injury o Submandibular duct injury
