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What Are Salivary Stones?

Salivary duct stones, also referred to as sialoliths, are crystallized minerals. They are found in the salivary ducts which are responsible for draining the salivary glands. The salivary glands produce saliva. These stones can form when the chemicals present in saliva crystallize into a stone, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The glands on the sides of the jaw and back of the mouth are most often affected, but the glands on the side of the face can be affected as well.

  1. Signs and Symptoms

    • When you have a salivary stone, you are most likely to notice the symptoms when drinking or eating. You may experience dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, difficulty opening your mouth, swelling in your face or neck, mouth pain or facial pain, according to MedlinePlus. The swelling in your neck and face can be significant when you drink or eat.

    Diagnosis

    • Your dentist or doctor will examine your head and neck. He will examine your salivary glands to look for tenderness or enlargement. During your examination, a stone may be palpated. To confirm the diagnosis, your doctor will likely perform an imaging test such as a computed tomography (CT) scan, ultrasound or X-rays.

    Treatment

    • Treatment is focused on removing the salivary stone. In some cases, the stone can be simply pushed out of the duct. In other cases, surgery is necessary to remove the stone. Before putting you through surgery, your dentist or doctor is likely to attempt to flush out the stone. This is done by increasing your saliva flow. Your doctor will have you increase your fluid intake, suck on citrus or sour candy and perform massage near the duct, according to MedlinePlus. For most patients, the stone is removed without issue and only minor discomfort. If you experience salivary stones repeatedly or begin to have infections, your dentist or doctor may recommend a surgical procedure to remove the affected salivary gland.

    Possible Complications

    • You may experience discomfort with salivary stones. There is also the chance that the stones will come back after you have been treated. There is also an increased risk of experiencing a salivary gland infection. This infection can be either bacterial or viral. The bacterial infections generally stem from poor oral hygiene or salivary duct stones; the viral infections include those, such as the mumps. Some signs and symptoms of a salivary gland infection include abnormal taste, dry mouth, facial or mouth pain, facial swelling, difficulty opening the mouth, fever or redness, according to MedlinePlus. Treatment will depend on the infection; some patients will not require treatment.

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