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What is a salivary gland abscess?

A salivary gland abscess, an abnormal collection of pus or white blood cells, can form in any of the salivary glands. However, it most commonly occurs in the parotid glands, and to a lesser extent, the submandibular glands. The build-up of pus causes swelling of the gland, inflammation, overlying redness of the skin. It can pose a diagnostic challenge since it is often unclear as to the precise etiology of the abscess. Treatment with antibiotics is not always effective without relieving the blockage in some fashion.

Salivary glands produce saliva, which aids in digestion, protects our teeth, and keeps our mouths moist. There are three pairs of glands known as the parotid, submandibular (or submaxillary), and sublingual glands. The parotid glands are located on the sides of faces and in front of our ears, while the submandibular and sublingual glands are found together under our jawlines. We also have multiple minor salivary glands in the insides of our lips which can occasionally become enlarged or painful if we accidentally bite on them.

The salivary glands are mostly forgotten unless there is something wrong, which can mean a blockage, either by a stone (sialolithiasis) or sludging of saliva (inspissation), infection (bacterial, viral, or tuberculosis), or autoimmune (Sjögren syndrome, lupus erythematosus, or rheumatoid arthritis).

What does a blocked salivary gland feel like?

How do you treat/drain a salivary gland abscess?

Do you need to have surgery to drain a salivary gland abscess? (Can it go away on its own?)

How long does it take to recover after draining a salivary gland abscess?

What complications may occur after draining a salivary gland abscess?

* Savings estimate based on a study of more than 1 billion claims comparing self-pay (or cash pay) prices of a frequency-weighted market basket of procedures to insurer-negotiated rates for the same. Claims were collected between July 2017 and July 2019. R.Lawrence Van Horn, Arthur Laffer, Robert L.Metcalf. 2019. The Transformative Potential for Price Transparency in Healthcare: Benefits for Consumers and Providers. Health Management Policy and Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 3.

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