This webpage has been designed to improve understanding of Sublingual Gland Removal and contains answers to the most commonly asked questions about this treatment. If you have any other questions that the website does not answer or would like further explanation please ask a member of our medical staff.

What is the sublingual gland?
The sublingual gland is a salivary gland about the size of an almond that lies underneath the tongue in the floor of the mouth. Saliva drains from it through a number of small tubes that open on the inside of the mouth underneath the tongue. The most common reason for removing a sublingual gland is as a result of a blockage to these drainage tubes. This can lead to a swelling (ranula).

What does the operation involve?
The sublingual gland is removed under a general anaesthetic, ie: the patient is put to sleep completely. The operation involves making a cut around 2cm long (1½”) underneath the tongue on the inside of the lower teeth. Once the gland has been removed the incision is held together again with stitches. These are usually dissolvable but may take several weeks to disappear.

How long will the operation take?
The length of time partly depends upon the degree of difficulty. In an uncomplicated procedure it will take approximately 30 minutes to remove the sublingual gland.

What can be expected after the operation?
Patients usually require a night in hospital following the surgery. It is unlikely to be very sore but regular painkillers will be arranged. There is relatively little swelling following submandibular gland removal.

Does this procedure require any time off work?
It is usually advisable to take a week off work to recover from the surgery. During this time patients should avoid strenuous activity. Patients must remember not to drive or operate machinery for 48 hours after general anaesthetic.

Does this procedure leave a scar?
At the time of surgery the wound is only gently held together with a few stitches so initially there will be some gaps. Please do not be concerned by this. All cuts leave a scar but inside the mouth the majority of these fade with time and are difficult to see when they are fully healed. It will take a couple of months for the scar to fade completely.

What are the possible problems?
Bleeding from the wound is unlikely to be a problem. If it occurs it usually does so within the first 12 hours of surgery which is why patients need to stay in hospital overnight.

Infection is uncommon but if your surgeon thinks it may happen, a short course of antibiotics will be arranged.

What are the possible complications?
There are potential complications with any operation. Fortunately with this type of surgery complications are rare and may not happen. However it is important that patients are aware of them and have the opportunity to discuss them with their surgeon.

Numbness of the tongue - the lingual nerve which supplies feeling to the side of the tongue can become bruised as a result of surgery. If this occurs the patient will experience a tingly or numb feeling in the tongue, similar to the sensation after having an injection at the dentist. This numbness may take several months to disappear and in a minority of patients may last forever.

Damage to the submandibular duct - the submandibular duct is the name of the tube, which carries saliva from the submandibular gland into the mouth. The submandibular gland is a salivary gland about the size of a plum that lies immediately below the lower jaw at the top of the neck. The duct runs close to the sublingual gland before opening on the inside of the mouth under the tongue immediately behind the lower front teeth. If this duct is damaged saliva may not drain properly from the submandibular gland and the gland may therefore swell in the upper part of the neck. The majority of these swellings settle down on their own.

Are there are any long-term effects of having the sublingual gland removed?
The removal of one sublingual gland will not have an impact on the amount of saliva that is produced. There are many other saliva glands left in and around the mouth that will still keep it moist.

Will further appointments be required?
A review appointment will be arranged before the patient leaves hospital to see the surgeon again.

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