A Case of Facial Palsy Following Tooth Extraction / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

Facial palsy following tooth extraction is rare and its mechanism is unclear. Possible mechanisms are direct anesthesia of facial nerve, compression and ischemia of facial nerve during edema, neurotoxicity of local anesthetic solution, viral reactivation and ascending infection. Viral reactivation and ascending infection are most likely mechanisms among them. Therefore, it is important to use an antiviral agent combined with steroid for treatment of dental origin facial palsy. We report our recent experience with one case of facial palsy that followed tooth extraction.