Mouth and Throat

Mouth and Throat

Mouth and Throat ENT Services

If you are looking for Ear, Nose and Throat serivces in McLean Virginia, our physicians provide services in the following mouth and throat related services.

Tonsillitis, or inflammation of the tonsils is most often due to viral or bacterial infections. Severe tonsillitis or recurrent tonsillitis are entities which should be evaluated by a throat specialist. Although not performed as frequently as in decades past, surgical management in the form of tonsillectomy may be warranted for certain patients.

Chronic throat clearing is a non-specfic symptom which can be quite bothersome. Acid reflux and post-nasal drip are common etiologies. There are other more severe causes. Chronic throat clearing should be evaluated with an in-office laryngoscopy procedure to arrive at a diagnosis and provide the best possible treatment.

Tonsilliths, or tonsil stones, is a common condition where calcified debris collects in the grooves (crypts) of the tonsils. Although this is not a dangerous condition, it can lead to bad breath or pain. Non-invasive measures include rinses, oral irrigators or manual expresson. For selective patients with refractory or severe tonsillith formation, surgical management may be appropriate.

Laryngopharyngeal reflux is an entity where stomach refluxate irritates the
“silent reflux” include hoarseness, cough, throat clearing, sensation of something in the throat, throat pain, difficulty or pain with swallowing. Many of these symptoms are non-specific and confirmation of this diagnosis should be made by an Otolaryngologist with more severe conditions being ruled out.

Peritonsillar abscess, abbreviated PTA, is a common complication of a tonsil infection where pus collects in the area just adjacent to the tonsils. Treatment of this requires prompt intervention with drainage of the abscess.

Tongue tie, or ankyloglossia, is a congenital issue where it is diffifult to move the forward most portion of the tongue due to tethering to the floor of the mouth. This condition can have potential effects on both feeding and speech. If you suspect tongue tie in your child, referral to an Otolaryngologist is appropriate.

Our voice is how we communicate with the world. Dysphonia, or voice disorders, can have a profound effect on our lives. There are many different conditions which can lead to dysphonia ranging from laryngitis to laryngeal cancers. Prolonged voice disturbance requires thorough evaluation.

Dysphagia, or trouble swallowing, can be due to abnormalities at any point in the swallow mechanism. Swallowing has three aspects: oral, pharyngeal and esophageal. A thorough history and physical exam can help determine where the difficulty lies. From there, an appropriate work up may be done. This work up may include imaging, videofluroscopy, endoscopy, or other modalities. WIth the help of these tools, appropriate treatment is begun.