Abstract

Bell’s palsy is an idiopathic neuropathy of the facial nerve, meaning that a cause is unknown. It is usually recognized as an acute weakness and disability to move one side of the entire face. Problems of speech, swallowing and eating occur and the chance of the quick recovery takes 6 months (85% of patients) or is impossible at all. However, it is inevitable to restore patient’s masticatory system and to return the ability to live a comprehensive life. The purpose of the work is to report a case of Bell’s Palsy, reveal advices and difficulties that were met during this treatment.

Methods: A clinical and radiographic examination for the 51-year-old patient was made in accordance with neurologist, otorhinolaryngologist and general doctor. Accordingly, an electronic research was performed on databases such as The Cochrane Library, EMBASE via Science Direct, MEDLINE via PubMed in order to collect as much information as possible. All selected data was summarized and the protocol of treatment for a patient was determined.

Result: A clinical case presents our findings and the protocol of the treatment, replenished with data from scientific literature. The main aspects are mentioned with our plans to continue our research how to improve prosthodontic treatment for patients with facial paralysis.

Conclusion: Clinical and radiographic analysis has showed a need for a specific treatment. According to the clinical case, the main anatomical structures were marked according which a required border molding has to be reached for all types of patients and have distinguished the ones that are inherent for patients with Bell’s palsy.

Keywords:Bell’s palsy; Complete dentures; Border molding; Custom trays