Sialendoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that allows doctors to diagnose and treat salivary gland disorders. During the procedure, a doctor inserts a small endoscope into the affected duct in the mouth, and then uses tools like wire baskets, balloons, irrigation channels, cameras, and lights to remove stones, dilate duct strictures and flush out debris.

Sialendoscopy is used to treat disorders such as stones, strictures, and chronic inflammation. It’s also increasingly used to treat salivary stones, which are a leading cause of chronic sialadenitis, the most common non-neoplastic disease of the salivary glands.

During sialendoscopy, an endoscope is inserted into the affected duct in the mouth. Once the stone is located, the necessary removal equipment is threaded through a port in the scope to the stone. The stone is then grasped and extracted or mechanically broken into smaller pieces, which are then extracted. In some cases, a stent may be used to widen a narrow duct. Because the stone is accessed through a natural opening in the mouth, the salivary gland duct, there is no incision and little risk of damaging nearby nerves that control movement of the face or tongue.

After the procedure, the area below the jaw may be sore, swollen, or bruised for several days. The incision usually takes 1–2 weeks to heal, and stitches may need to be removed or dissolve on their own. Patients usually notice a difference right away after the swelling goes down.

Some symptoms of salivary gland disorders include:
• Bad taste in the mouth
• Dry mouth
• Facial pain
• Inflammation and infection of the submandibular or parotid glands
• Mouth pain
• Salivary stones
• Swelling of the sides of the face or under the jaw, often times worsened during eating