title: Quantitative evaluation of oral function in acute and recovery phase of idiopathic facial palsy; a preliminary controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients with peripheral facial palsy frequently complain of fluid leakage and food retention during meals. We investigated oral function during eating in adults with peripheral facial palsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective two-phase controlled observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected at the ENT clinic in Nihon University Itabashi Hospital (patients) and Nihon University Dental Hospital (controls) between September 2009 and August 2011 and analysed at the Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences in Nihon University School of Dentistry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen patients with acute idiopathic facial palsy and 14 controls completed Study 1. Sixteen patients with acute idiopathic facial palsy and 16 controls completed Study 2.
  
  
  METHODS
  In Study 1, oral vestibular cleansing capability was assessed by measuring the amount of rice remaining in the oral vestibule after mastication. In Study 2, masticatory efficiency was evaluated by measuring glucose eluted from gummy jelly during chewing. These oral functions were observed at the first visit and final visit (after patients with facial palsy had recovered).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oral vestibular cleansing capability at the first visit was significantly decreased by facial palsy (P < 0.001 versus healthy volunteers and P < 0.001 versus contralateral side) but recovered as facial muscular function improved (P = 0.034). There was a significant correlation between improvement in paralysis and decreased food retention (r = -0.528, P = 0.010). At the first visit, masticatory efficiency on the affected side was significantly lower than that of controls (P = 0.002) but had mostly recovered after resolution of facial palsy (P = 0.033).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral functions were decreased by peripheral facial palsy. Oral vestibular cleansing capability was more significantly associated than masticatory efficiency with facial muscle function. Our data suggest that peripheral facial palsy impairs eating and worsens oral hygiene, which may result in oral disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences, Nihon University School of Dentistry, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kamo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Okada-Ogawa
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Noma
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kukimoto
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Omori
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakazato
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kishi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Imamura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020330:Bell Palsy / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009909:Oral Health; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*