The impact of occlusal plane rehabilitation on the face of a patient with traumatic peripheral facial paralysis by Timpanic jugular tumor – case report

Abstract

The musculature of the face is innervated by cranial nerves, each with a motor, sensory and/or both function. The Facial nerve (FN) is responsible for the motor innervation of the muscles of the face. Some branches of the trigeminal nerve are responsible for the sensory part of the facial muscles and other branches act on the motor part of the chewing muscles. Traumatic Facial Paralysis (TFP) is the one where there was section or traction or compression or ischemia of the FN, in surgery for tumor resection or trauma in general. In this case occurs the nerve’s section in one surgery. Facial Paralysis (FP) can be evaluated subjectively through the House and Brackmann classification scale (HB) [1]. It is considered a chronic FP when it persists for a period longer than 6 months and leaves sequelae, such as synkinesis, contractures and lack of complete innervation of some nerve branches. Some patients who evolve with chronic FP may also evolve with alteration of the occlusal plane. The occlusal plane is the meeting point between the antagonist teeth, plane that is in the final stop of the masticatory cycle. The rehabilitation of this plan is performed according to the needs of each patient, in this case was made through implant prostheses.