Oral health care for the stroke survivor

Despite a dramatic decrease in the incidence of stroke during the past decade, cerebrovascular accidents remain the third leading cause of death among the elderly. Stroke survivors, on the other hand, often demonstrate unique and challenging oral problems. This article delineates the etiology of cerebrovascular accidents, describes its orofacial manifestations in the stroke survivor, and offers guidelines for oral rehabilitation and management of affected individuals in the community or in an institutional setting.