Oral Functions: Senses

Question 1

which nerve is involved in innervating the lower teeth?

Answer 1

inferior alveolar nerve

Question 2

which nerve does the inferior alveolar nerve give off anteriorly?

Answer 2

mental nerve

Question 3

where does the mental nerve exit?

Answer 3

the mental foramen

Question 4

what does the mental nerve do?

Answer 4

supply sensory branches to the chin and lower lip

Question 5

why would numbness remain in the lip after and IDB?

Answer 5

due to temporary damage of the ID nerve

Question 6

what is paraesthesia?

Answer 6

an abnormal sensation, typically tingling or prickling

Question 7

what is dysaesthesia

Answer 7

an abnormal unpleasant sensation felt when touched, caused by damage to peripheral nerves

Question 8

what does the gagging reflex do?

Answer 8

act to prevent material entering the pharynx

Question 9

what is the gagging reflex evoked by?

Answer 9

mechanical stimulation of fauces, palate, posterior tongue and pharynx

Question 10

what efferent nerves are involved in the gag reflex?

Answer 10

trigeminal, glossopharyngeal, vagus, accessory, hypoglossal (V, IX, X, XI, XII)

Question 11

what afferent nerve is involved in the gag reflex?

Answer 11

glossopharyngeal (IX)

Question 12

how can you manage a gag reflex?

Answer 12

use fast set alginate, breath through nose, mesh denture connector, magnets put into gingiva for denture wearers to stop the denture from extending too far back

Question 13

what does Bell’s palsy cause?

Answer 13

a motor disorder which gives the inability to wrinkle brow, drooping eyelid, inability to close eye, inability to puff cheeks, no muscle tone, dropping mouth, food stuck in cheek

Question 14

what are the facial nerve branches?

Answer 14

temporal, zygomatic, buccal, mandibular, cervical

Question 15

what do the orbicularis oris and buccinator do?

Answer 15

help to control food bolus and prevent spillage

Question 16

what is Bell’s palsy?

Answer 16

any type of facial paralysis that does not have other associated causes such as tumours, trauma and salivary gland inflammation

Question 17

name some causes of Bell’s palsy

Answer 17

infections (HSV), otitis media, diabetes, trauma, toxins, LA infiltration to facial nerve branches

Question 18

when does Bell’s palsy occur?

Answer 18

when the injection is given too far distally and the parotid gland is penetrated allowing diffusion of LA through loose glandular tissue which affects all branches of facial nerve

Question 19

how does Bell’s palsy present

Answer 19

inability to close the eye or blink and inability to raise the corner of the mouth or puff the cheeks

Question 20

how do you manage Bell’s palsy

Answer 20

reassure patient that it will fix itself, give eye patch to protect cornea until blink returns

Question 21

what do periodontal mechanoreceptors allow?

Answer 21

finer discrimination of food texture, tooth contacts and levels of functional loading, better appreciation of food and more precise control of mandibular movements

Question 22

what are the benefits of retaining as much teeth as possible?

Answer 22

periodontal mechanoreceptors and the psychological benefit by preventing the feeling of total los of natural teeth

Question 23

what are precision attachments?

Answer 23

magnets and root covered with GIC

Question 24

why do some implants fail?

Answer 24

as they dont have mechanoreceptors on them so no PDL so no appreciation of how much force is applied to the tooth

Question 25

what does the loss of periodontal mechanoreceptors influence?

Answer 25

control of jaw function, precision of magnitude, direction, rate of occlusal load application

Question 26

what oral functions to periodontal mechanoreceptors contribute to?

Answer 26

mastication, salivation, interdental discrimination

Question 27

what is interdental discrimination?

Answer 27

ability to gauge extent of mouth opening, coordination of masticatory movements, monitoring size of food particles, detection of high spots

Question 28

with complete dentures what does the loss of mechanoreception result in?

Answer 28

inherently unstable during normal functional jaw movements

Question 29

what causes dysphagia?

Answer 29

stroke, brain injury, multiple sclerosis, gastroesophageal reflux disorder, tumours

Question 30

what is 2 point discrimination

Answer 30

pressing food against hard palate for mechanoreceptors to identify the shape of the food and the tongue taste buds identifying the taste

Question 31

what can smelling disorders affect?

Answer 31

the sense of taste

Question 32

what might nasopharynx infection result in?

Answer 32

anosmia (loss of olfactory sense)

Question 33

what are nociceptors

Answer 33

nerves which respond to intense stimuli associated with pain