title: Clinical assessment of orofacial manifestations in 500 patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to determine the incidence of orofacial manifestations in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and to assess the factors associated with these symptoms. The dental implications of this disease are discussed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 500 patients 11 to 69 years old with MS. All patients underwent a standard neurologic examination. The main manifestations assessed by the investigators were trigeminal neuralgia, facial palsy, temporomandibular disorders, visual complications, dysphagia, and dysarthria. The authors collected demographic information and clinical variables, such as disease duration and family history, to assess the factors associated with orofacial symptoms in patients with MS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of orofacial manifestations in patients with MS was 88.6%. Visual disorders (80.4%) were observed most frequently in patients with MS, followed by temporomandibular disorders (58.2%), dysarthria (42.1%), dysphagia (26.6%), facial palsy (19%), and trigeminal neuralgia (7.9%). A significant correlation with orofacial manifestations was found in patients with a longer duration of disease (>7 yr) compared with patients with a shorter duration (<7 yr; P < .005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among the different manifestations, visual complications, temporomandibular disorders, and dysarthria were commonly observed in patients with MS. Dental practitioners should be aware of the medications used by patients with MS to provide conservative treatments and avoid drug interactions.
authors: Dental Research Center, Mashhad Dental School, Mashhad, Iran. amirds_dds@yahoo.com
authors: Seyed Amir
authors: SA
authors: Danesh-Sani
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Rahimdoost
authors: Mahmood
authors: M
authors: Soltani
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Ghiyasi
authors: Navid
authors: N
authors: Haghdoost
authors: Somayyeh
authors: S
authors: Sabzali-Zanjankhah
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004401:Dysarthria / Q000453:epidemiology; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult