Salivary Gland Disorders and Diseases

The salivary glands are the exocrine glands found in mammals. These glands are responsible for producing saliva by a system of ducts. Food becomes moistened by saliva due to the enzymes present in it, making swallowing and chewing easier, which further helps in breaking down food and aids in its digestion. The salivary glands can be afflicted by a variety of conditions including stones, swelling, malfunction and infection. The symptoms of salivary gland disorders include neck or facial swelling, dry mouth, a bad taste in the mouth, etc. There can be various causes of these disorders such as cancer, infections and obstruction. These disorders are diagnosed through imaging studies, biopsy, endoscopy and sometimes a sample of pus can be taken when there is infection in the ducts. The treatment of salivary gland disorders may involve surgery, antibiotics for infections, proper oral hygiene and medications for dry mouth. This book aims to understand the clinical perspectives of salivary gland disorders and diseases. Medical professionals, researchers and students engaged in the study of these disorders will be assisted by it.