FAQs

What is a sinus specialist?

A sinus specialist is an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) doctor, who diagnoses, manages, and treats any disorders of the sinuses.  Your primary care doctor may diagnose you with sinusitis, and then refer you to a sinus specialist for further workup, diagnosis, and treatment for acute or chronic sinusitis.

What does an ENT doctor do?

An ENT doctor focuses on problems concerning the ear, nose, and throat:

  • Ear – conditions affecting the ears that cause hearing impairment, ear infections, disorders that affect balance, tinnitus, and ear pain.
  • Nose – conditions affecting the nose, nasal cavities, and sinuses that cause problems with the sense of smell, breathing, and physical appearance.
  • Throat – conditions affecting the throat that cause problems with speech, singing, eating, swallowing, and digestion.

ENT doctors also address issues affecting the neck and head, including diseases, tumors, trauma, and deformities of the head, neck, and face. Additionally, they can perform cosmetic and reconstructive surgery to address issues in these areas.

When should you see an ENT doctor?

You should see an ENT doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:

  • Dizziness
  • Balance Problems
  • Hearing Impairment
  • Tinnitus
  • Ear infection
  • Tonsil or Adenoid Infection
  • Swimmer’s Ear
  • Pain in Your Ears, Nose, or Throat
  • Nerve Problems in Your Ears, Nose, or Throat
  • Nasal Congestion
  • Nasal Obstruction
  • Nose Bleeds
  • Breathing Problems
  • Asthma
  • Allergy
  • Sinus Problems or Infections
  • Deviated Septum
  • Growth or Tumor in Your Ears, Nose, or Throat
  • Voice or Swallowing Problems
  • Hoarse Voice or Sore Throat
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Facial Plastic Surgery services include rhinoplasty, cosmetic procedures, non-surgical procedures, skin care, and reconstructive surgery.

Why Choose North Dallas ENT?

Drs. Wyatt, Wyll, Pero and Scalzitti are all board-certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. They are a dedicated team of physicians providing specialty care for ear, nose, and throat conditions to both pediatric and adult patients. They also maintain a full-service audiology department for hearing testing and hearing aid dispensing. Additionally, they provide allergy services, diagnosing and treating allergic conditions with allergy testing and allergy shots or drops that go under the tongue (sublingual). Furthermore, Dr. Pero is a fellowship-trained and board-certified Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, offering aesthetic and reconstructive surgery of the face and neck. Check out his website at www.drpero.com to learn more about the services he provides.

Where is North Dallas ENT located?

North Dallas ENT is located on N Central Expressway in North Dallas, and our facial plastic surgery office, North Texas Facial Plastic Surgery, is located within the Legacy Medical Village on W Spring Creek Parkway in Plano. Check out our Location page for directions and office hours.

What is sinusitis?

Sinusitis, also known as a sinus infection or rhinosinusitis, is an inflammation of the mucous-lined, air-filled spaces in your skull that connect to the nose and throat.  When the sinuses become inflamed, blocked or swollen, normal mucus drainage may not occur trapping air and other fluids, creating vacuums and/or pressure. This pressure can cause pain, which can sometimes be intense.  Clogged sinuses may also lead to infections.

How do you treat sinusitis?

Sinus treatments focus on reducing nose and sinus inflammation and keeping the drainage pathways open and functioning properly.

Medical management of sinusitis includes prescription medications as well as over-the-counter medications to relieve sinusitis symptoms. Medications commonly recommended include decongestant nasal sprays, decongestants, nasal antihistamines, nasal corticosteroids, nasal irrigation, oral antibiotics, and oral antihistamines.

For patients who don’t respond to medication, and who suffer from chronic and recurrent acute sinusitis, there are other treatment options available to alleviate their symptoms.  Depending on the cause of your sinusitis, your sinus doctor may recommend one of several procedures, including a balloon sinuplasty, a septoplasty, a turbinate reduction, or polyp removal, to help relieve your sinusitis symptoms and help you breathe better through your nose.

How do you know if you are a candidate for sinus relief?

You might be a candidate for sinus relief at North Dallas ENT and not even realize it. From a simple consultation for one of our state-of-the-art procedures, such as Balloon Sinuplasty, North Dallas ENT has a lot to offer to anyone suffering from any degree of sinus or allergy-related ailments.

Take our screening quiz to find out if North Dallas ENT and our sinus doctors can help improve your life.

What causes breathing problems?

There are many causes of breathing problems, some of which are chronic or long-term. From an ENT perspective, the nose and sinuses are often associated with many lung disorders, as the nasal passage is a pathway for viruses and allergens to enter your lungs.  Inflammation of a sinus or nasal passage may trigger reflexes and causes asthma–and the number one trigger for asthma is allergies.

At North Dallas ENT, we can do a full evaluation for you to find out if chronic sinusitis, allergies, or asthma are the cause of your breathing problems.

Contact us today to schedule your appointment.

Is there an association between snoring and sleep apnea?

Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea.  But anyone who snores loudly, nightly and has other symptoms, like pauses in breathing at night or daytime sleepiness, should talk to a doctor to rule out sleep apnea. Also, habitual snoring is more of an issue if the snorer is experiencing any of the following symptoms:
  • Excessive daytime drowsiness
  • Waking up not feeling rested
  • Morning headaches
  • Recent weight gain
  • Chest pain at night
  • High blood pressure
  • Decreased ability to concentrate or memory loss
  • Observed pauses in breathing at night
  • Waking up gasping for breath
These signs and symptoms may indicate a potential health issue. If you have concerns about your snoring and feel that they may be related to a health issue, please contact us at North Dallas ENT for an evaluation.

What are the symptoms of a deviated septum?

The most common symptom of a deviated septum is nasal congestion. Symptoms are usually worse on one side, and sometimes occur on the side opposite the bend.  Other symptoms include difficulty breathing, recurrent or repeated sinus infections, frequent nosebleeds, facial pain, headaches, loud breathing, snoring and mild sleep apnea. For some patients, the crooked septum can interfere with the drainage of the sinuses, resulting in repeated sinus infections.

What is the recommended treatment for a deviated septum?

A septoplasty is the preferred surgical treatment to correct a deviated septum and improve breathing. It is a minor, minimally-invasive, outpatient procedure. The procedure can frequently be done in the office under local anesthesia with oral sedation. The procedure is performed entirely through the nostrils where the surgeon makes a small incision in the septum and then removes the excess bone or cartilage required to even out the breathing space of the nostrils.

What is chronic rhinitis?

Chronic rhinitis affects more than 24 million people in the United States. It is a recurrent nasal blockage/discharge that doesn’t resolve on its own, and symptoms often result from the constant irritation or inflammation of the inner lining of the nose. One of the most common characteristics of chronic rhinitis is a postnasal drip, which is mucus that accumulates in the back of the nose and throat that drips down from the back of the nose. Postnasal drip may lead to a chronic sore throat, a chronic cough, or throat clearing.

How do you treat chronic rhinitis?

There are many options available to treat chronic rhinitis.  Your doctor may first take a medical management approach and prescribe medications, such as nasal antihistamines, nasal corticosteroids, or oral antihistamines to help alleviate your symptoms. There are also some home remedies like nasal irrigation that can help, as well as some over-the-counter nasal decongestant sprays.

Your doctor may also advise you to avoid triggers that cause your symptoms, such as wood-burning stoves and fireplaces, cleaning agents and household sprays, perfumes, and scented products. You may also be advised to quit smoking or not to be around people who smoke, especially if this is one of your triggers.

If you don’t respond to medical management of your symptoms, your doctor may prescribe ClariFix treatment for chronic rhinitis (this treatment is only available by prescription).

What causes nasal polyps to form?

Any condition that triggers chronic inflammation in your nasal passages or sinuses increases your risk of developing nasal polyps. Nasal polyps often result from chronic inflammation due to asthma, recurring infections (e.g., chronic sinusitis), allergies (e.g., airborne fungi), drug sensitivity (e.g., aspirin), or certain immune disorders.  Family history may also play a role, as certain genetic variations associated with immune system function make you more likely to develop nasal polyps.

What is the recommended treatment for nasal polyps?

Your doctor will work with you to develop the best, long-term treatment plan to manage your symptoms and to treat factors, such as allergies, that may contribute to chronic inflammation. It should be noted, however, that no matter the treatment, nasal polyps may return. That is why it is important to determine the cause of your chronic inflammation so that we can help prevent nasal polyps from returning

Does North Dallas ENT offer financing options?

Yes, North Dallas ENT offers financing options, including Care Credit. We also accept Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) debit cards for qualifying medical expenses.

11970 N. Central Expressway
Suite 400
Dallas, TX 75243
214-382-5100
Legacy Medical Village
5425 W. Spring Creek Parkway
Suite 145
Plano, TX 75024
214-382-5100

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