Throat Conditions & Treatments
At AOO | ENT Specialists of the Rockies, we offer healthcare options that respect your values and honor your needs. For over 40 years, our board-certified physicians have provided the highest quality health care to families in the Denver Metropolitan area and Rocky Mountain Region.
Our physicians will carefully evaluate your medical history, perform a physical examination, and provide personalized treatment options to meet your specific needs. Supporting our physicians are audiologists and specialty-trained nurses for your complete hearing and allergy health care. Together, they offer you the attention you deserve and the care you require.
Hoarseness
Hoarseness describes a variety of abnormal voice changes and is caused by a variety of illnesses or disorders. A hoarse voice may sound breathy, raspy, or strained and changes in volume or pitch can also occur.
Mouth Sores
Mouth sores include fever blisters (also known as cold sores) or canker sores. Each of these can make it painful to eat or talk, and often recur. When fever blisters or canker sores occur inside the mouth, it can be difficult to distinguish the two. Treatment is focused on relieving the discomfort and guarding against infection.
Sore Throats
A sore throat may be a symptom of any number of medical disorders. Infections can be caused by a virus (such as the flu, common cold, or mononucleosis) or bacteria (such as strep, mycoplasma, or Hemophilus.) Other common, non-contagious causes for a sore throat include allergies, irritation from dry heat, reflux, or tumors.
If your sore throat symptoms persist longer than about a week, you should seek medical attention to determine its cause. Regardless of the duration of your symptoms, you should also see a doctor if you experience difficulty breathing or swallowing, blood in the saliva or phlegm, a fever over 101 degrees, or other severe symptoms.
Swallowing Trouble
Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, is relatively common, especially among the elderly. Trouble swallowing may be caused by a variety of problems, including ill-fitting dentures, poor teeth, the common cold, or gastroesophageal reflux. Symptoms can include drooling, a sensation of something being stuck in the throat, or discomfort in the throat or chest. Treatment depends on the cause of the dysphagia and could include a lifestyle, diet change, or medication.
Tonsils and Adenoids
Tonsils and adenoids are glands found near the entrance to breathing passages which are part of the immune system. Scientists believe that they work by filtering the germs that attempt to invade the body and helping to develop antibodies. After the first few years of life, this process is largely complete, and the tonsils and adenoids may be removed if they become infected without loss of immune function. Tonsil and adenoid infections can cause impairment in breathing and swallowing.
Tonsillectomy Procedures
If the tonsils become chronically infected, they can be removed through a tonsillectomy. There are a few different types of tonsillectomy procedures, including cold knife dissection, electrocautery, harmonic scalpel, and bipolar radiofrequency ablation.
Schedule a Consultation
Whatever your symptoms and medical concerns may be, schedule a consultation with the ENT Specialists at AOO | ENT Specialists of the Rockies To schedule your appointment with either our Denver, Lone Tree, or Castle Rock offices, call (720) 897-7160 or request a consultation online.
Associates of Otolaryngology, or, AOO | ENT Specialists of the Rockies has been serving multiple generations of families across the Denver Metro area since 1969. Our group of board-certified surgeons has been providing award-winning treatment and exceeding patients’ expectations with our specialized ENT services for over fifty-five years.
Thanks to our exceptional providers, we are an all-encompassing, comprehensive ENT practice. Our expert team of specialists includes general ENT surgeons, head and neck surgeons, sleep, sinus, and allergy specialists, and facial cosmetic and reconstructive surgeons. In addition, our team of providers is supported by doctoral-level audiologists, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners.