Surgical management of drooling. Case report.

Drooling occurs when excessive quantities of saliva dribble from the opened mouth. This distressing condition affects many mentally handicapped patients who are unable to effectively clear their normal salivary flow by swallowing. Any method employed for the control of drooling must still allow a sufficient volume of flow for mastication, deglutition and oral hygiene. Surgery is generally indicated for marked or severe cases of drooling and Wilkie's operation involving redirection of the parotid flow into the oropharynx is the most commonly performed surgical procedure. This operation may be combined with bilateral removal of the submandibular salivary glands if the problem is severe.