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Bell's palsy following primary tooth extraction. A case report
David Owsley1, Jay P Goldsmith
1New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA. owsleydm@yahoo.com
The New York State Dental Journal
|July 19, 2012
Summary
Bell's palsy causes sudden facial nerve paralysis, affecting 20-30 per 100,000 people. While often idiopathic, herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) is a suspected cause, with rare links to tooth extraction.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Ophthalmology
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Bell's palsy involves acute, unilateral peripheral facial nerve (CN 7) paralysis.
- Incidence rates range from 20 to 30 cases per 100,000 population annually.
- Etiology is often idiopathic, but infectious and non-infectious causes are recognized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the association between herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) and Bell's palsy.
- To explore potential triggers such as tooth extraction.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on Bell's palsy and HSV-1.
- Analysis of case reports linking Bell's palsy to dental procedures.
Main Results:
- The link between HSV-1 and Bell's palsy has been investigated since the 1970s.
- A small number of Bell's palsy cases have been reported post-tooth extraction.
Conclusions:
- While Bell's palsy is frequently idiopathic, HSV-1 remains a significant area of research.
- Further investigation is warranted for potential iatrogenic or infectious triggers like tooth extraction.