Oral health and oral health-related quality of life in patients with chronic peripheral facial nerve palsy with synkinesis – a case-control-study

Introduction Bell´s Palsy is the most common cranial nerve lesion leading to partial or complete immobility of the affected half of the face. Assumable, food residues on tooth surfaces cannot be removed by natural self-cleaning mechanisms, increasing dental plaque formation and the risk of dental, periodontal and general diseases. It was the aim of this study to assess oral health, oral hygiene and oral health related quality of life in patients with unilateral peripheral facial nerve palsy (FP).