This novel coronavirus has completely changed the health care system. But what about going to the dentist? Keep reading to learn more about getting dental care during the COVID-19 crisis.
A healthy flow of saliva is critical for chewing and digestion, bathing gums, and bacterial control. And we owe it all to salivary glands, three pairs of organs in the cheek and floor of the mouth. Each gland secretes saliva into the mouth via a tube, and this is where trouble can begin.
Sialolithiasis—whew—names the condition that results from a small calcified stone blocking the salivary duct. Clearly, a kink in the duct will cause swelling of the gland itself.
And swelling usually means a measure of pain.
X-rays, ultrasound or an MRI will reveal any salivary gland blockage. In some people, stones recur again and again and may warrant minor surgery. Or a dentist, by fairly simple manual manipulation, can expel the stone and send you on your way.
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