Orofacial evaluation in patients with multiple sclerosis using Nordic Orofacial Test-Screening.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to investigate whether patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have more orofacial dysfunctions than the general population, using the Nordic Orofacial Test-Screening (NOT-S).


METHODS
The NOT-S instrument was applied in 34 patients with MS, who went to the MS Reference Center, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos and 34 healthy patients, matched for gender and age. NOT-S results were compared between patients with MS and control subjects. Disability and disease duration were assessed among the patients, in order to establish whether these parameters might affect the results from NOT-S.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in orofacial function between patients with MS and control subjects. There was no statistically significant correlation between disability and NOT-S or between disease duration and NOT-S. However, the correlation between disease duration and the degree of disability was statistically significant, thus suggesting that the results are in accordance with what would be expected regarding MS.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that there was no correlation between orofacial dysfunction and MS, although there were some differences in the affected domains.


CONCLUSIONS
This study points out the orofacial dysfunctions which health professionals should be aware in this population.
Nove de Julho University, Vergueiro Street, 235/249-Liberdade CEP, São Paulo, SP, 01504-001, Brazil.|Postgraduate Program on Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences, Nove de Julho University, Vergueiro Street, 235/249-Liberdade CEP, São Paulo, SP, 01504-001, Brazil.
Marcela Leticia Leal
MLL
Gonçalves
Postgraduate Program on Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences, Nove de Julho University, Vergueiro Street, 235/249-Liberdade CEP, São Paulo, SP, 01504-001, Brazil.
Cristiane Miranda
CM
França
Universidade Metropolitana de Santos (UNIMES), Santos, SP, Brazil.
Yara Dadalti
YD
Fragoso
Postgraduate Program on Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences, Nove de Julho University, Vergueiro Street, 235/249-Liberdade CEP, São Paulo, SP, 01504-001, Brazil.
Alessandro Melo
AM
Deana
Universidade Metropolitana de Santos (UNIMES), Santos, SP, Brazil.
Larissa Mateus
LM
de Almeida
Postgraduate Program on Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences, Nove de Julho University, Vergueiro Street, 235/249-Liberdade CEP, São Paulo, SP, 01504-001, Brazil. sandra.skb@gmail.com.|Universidade Metropolitana de Santos (UNIMES), Santos, SP, Brazil. sandra.skb@gmail.com.
Sandra Kalil
SK
Bussadori
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005149:Facial Expression; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012119:Respiration; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology*; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000503:physiopathology*
Deglutition disorders; Evaluation; Facial pain; Mastication; Multiple sclerosis