Biomaterial Database

Unilateral facial nerve paralysis following an infected lower third molar. 2010

M A Al-Muharraqi, and E C O'Sullivan

Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic, Dental & Maxillofacial Centre, Royal Medical Services, Bahrain Defence Force Hospital, Bahrain. mohammed@al-muharraqi.com

The authors report the case of a 35-year-old Arab man who presented with unilateral facial nerve palsy in the presence of an infected lower third molar. The paralysis occurred within hours of the development of a left-sided facial swelling. Surgical removal of the tooth and drainage of the abscess produced significant improvement in facial nerve function, and total resolution occurred prior to clinical follow-up 10 days later. The authors discuss the aetiology of this hemifacial paralysis and its significance as a clinical sign of third molar odontogenic infection.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008336	Mandibular Diseases	Diseases involving the MANDIBLE.	Disease, Mandibular,Diseases, Mandibular,Mandibular Disease
D008964	Molar, Third	The aftermost permanent tooth on each side in the maxilla and mandible.	Tooth, Wisdom,Teeth, Wisdom,Molars, Third,Third Molar,Third Molars,Wisdom Teeth,Wisdom Tooth
D003731	Dental Caries	Localized destruction of the tooth surface initiated by decalcification of the enamel followed by enzymatic lysis of organic structures and leading to cavity formation. If left unchecked, the cavity may penetrate the enamel and dentin and reach the pulp.	Caries, Dental,Carious Lesions,Dental Cavities,Dental Cavity,Dental Decay,Dental White Spots,Carious Dentin,Decay, Dental,Dental White Spot,White Spot, Dental,White Spots, Dental,Carious Dentins,Carious Lesion,Cavities, Dental,Cavity, Dental,Dentin, Carious,Dentins, Carious,Lesion, Carious,Lesions, Carious,Spot, Dental White,Spots, Dental White
D004322	Drainage	The removal of fluids or discharges from the body, such as from a wound, sore, or cavity.
D005155	Facial Nerve Diseases	Diseases of the facial nerve or nuclei. Pontine disorders may affect the facial nuclei or nerve fascicle. The nerve may be involved intracranially, along its course through the petrous portion of the temporal bone, or along its extracranial course. Clinical manifestations include facial muscle weakness, loss of taste from the anterior tongue, hyperacusis, and decreased lacrimation.	Acquired Facial Neuropathy,Cranial Nerve VII Diseases,Facial Myokymia,Facial Neuropathy,Geniculate Ganglionitis,Cranial Nerve VII Disorders,Facial Nerve Disorders,Facial Nerve Motor Disorders,Facial Nerve Sensory Disorders,Facial Neuritis,Familial Facial Neuropathy,Motor Disorders, Facial Nerve,Sensory Disorders, Facial Nerve,Seventh Cranial Nerve Diseases,Acquired Facial Neuropathies,Disease, Facial Nerve,Diseases, Facial Nerve,Disorder, Facial Nerve,Disorders, Facial Nerve,Facial Myokymias,Facial Nerve Disease,Facial Nerve Disorder,Facial Neuritides,Facial Neuropathies,Facial Neuropathies, Acquired,Facial Neuropathies, Familial,Facial Neuropathy, Acquired,Facial Neuropathy, Familial,Familial Facial Neuropathies,Ganglionitides, Geniculate,Ganglionitis, Geniculate,Geniculate Ganglionitides,Myokymia, Facial,Myokymias, Facial,Neuritides, Facial,Neuritis, Facial,Neuropathies, Facial,Neuropathies, Familial Facial,Neuropathy, Facial,Neuropathy, Familial Facial
D005158	Facial Paralysis	Severe or complete loss of facial muscle motor function. This condition may result from central or peripheral lesions. Damage to CNS motor pathways from the cerebral cortex to the facial nuclei in the pons leads to facial weakness that generally spares the forehead muscles. FACIAL NERVE DISEASES generally results in generalized hemifacial weakness. NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTION DISEASES and MUSCULAR DISEASES may also cause facial paralysis or paresis.	Facial Palsy,Hemifacial Paralysis,Facial Palsy, Lower Motor Neuron,Facial Palsy, Upper Motor Neuron,Facial Paralysis, Central,Facial Paralysis, Peripheral,Facial Paresis,Lower Motor Neuron Facial Palsy,Upper Motor Neuron Facial Palsy,Central Facial Paralyses,Central Facial Paralysis,Facial Palsies,Facial Paralyses, Central,Facial Paralyses, Peripheral,Palsies, Facial,Palsy, Facial,Paralyses, Central Facial,Paralyses, Facial,Paralyses, Hemifacial,Paralysis, Central Facial,Paralysis, Facial,Paralysis, Hemifacial,Paralysis, Peripheral Facial,Pareses, Facial,Paresis, Facial,Peripheral Facial Paralysis
D005491	Focal Infection, Dental	Secondary or systemic infections due to dissemination throughout the body of microorganisms whose primary focus of infection lies in the periodontal tissues.	Dental Focal Infection,Dental Focal Infections,Focal Infections, Dental,Infection, Dental Focal,Infections, Dental Focal
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000038	Abscess	Accumulation of purulent material in tissues, organs, or circumscribed spaces, usually associated with signs of infection.	Abscesses