Neurological Disorders That Impact Dentistry

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering neurological disorders that impact dental practice, including cranial nerve pathologies, chronic headaches, seizure disorders, cerebrovascular diseases, neurodegenerative conditions, neuropathies, and syncope.

Trigeminal Neuralgia

A chronic neuropathic pain disorder characterized by recurrent paroxysmal ipsilateral facial pain along branches of cranial nerve V ($\text{CN V}$), described as severe, sharp, electric shock-like, or stabbing pain lasting seconds to $2\,\text{minutes}$, typically triggered by light touch, chewing, talking, or cold wind.

Bell’s Palsy

An acute peripheral palsy of the facial nerve ($\text{CN VII}$) resulting in lower motor neuron weakness of the entire ipsilateral half of the face muscles, manifesting as unilateral facial weakness, smooth forehead folds, inability to close the eye, drooping of the mouth angle, hyperacusis/painful irritative hearing, and diminished taste on the anterior $\frac{2}{3}$ of the tongue.

Migraine

A primary neurovascular headache caused by genetic and neurological factors that make the brain hypersensitive to environmental and physiological changes, presenting with recurrent moderate-to-severe unilateral, pulsating, or throbbing head pain aggravated by routine activity, often accompanied by an aura, nausea, photophobia, and phonophobia.

Cluster Headache

A severe headache disorder involving trigeminal, autonomic, and blood vessel inflammation, characterized by sharp, non-throbbing unilateral orbital and temporal pain accompanied by ipsilateral autonomic signs such as lacrimation, rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, miosis, ptosis, and restlessness.

Tension-Type Headache

The most common primary headache disorder, involving peri-cranial muscle tenderness and central pain processing, characterized by a dull, pressing, band-like bilateral pain of mild-to-moderate intensity that does not worsen with routine physical activity and lacks nausea or vomiting.

Seizure

A single, temporary event of abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

Epilepsy

A chronic neurological disorder characterized by an enduring tendency for recurrent, unprovoked seizures.

Drug-Induced Gingival Hyperplasia

A painless, non-hemorrhagic, fibrotic lobulated tissue overgrowth that originates at the interdental papillae and predominantly involves the anterior maxillary and mandibular buccal segments, commonly caused by anticonvulsant therapy with Phenytoin.

Status Epilepticus

A continuous seizure lasting $> 5\,\text{minutes}$ or repeated seizures occurring without recovery of consciousness between episodes, requiring immediate activation of Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

A transient episode of neurological dysfunction caused by focal ischemia of the brain or spinal cord without acute infarction, where clinical signs typically resolve within $24\,\text{hours}$.

Stroke (Cerebrovascular Accident - CVA)

Rapidly developing clinical signs of focal or global disturbance of cerebral function of vascular origin lasting $> 24\,\text{hours}$ or leading to death, classified as ischemic ($85\%$) or hemorrhagic ($15\%$), classically presenting with neurological deficits on the contralateral side of the body.

Central Facial Palsy (Stroke)

An upper motor neuron facial paralysis resulting from central cerebrovascular lesions where forehead wrinkling remains intact and symmetrical due to bilateral cortical innervation, but the lower face exhibits flattening of the nasolabial fold and drooping of the mouth corner.

FAST Protocol

An emergency assessment algorithm used to rapidly identify stroke: Face (unilateral droop or asymmetrical smile), Arms (arm drift when elevated), Speech (slurred or garbled repetition), and Time (call EMS immediately if any sign is present).

Parkinson’s Disease

A progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, clinically characterized by resting tremor (\"pill-rolling\"), bradykinesia, muscle rigidity, postural instability, mask-like facies, stooped posture, shuffling short-stepped gait, and sialorrhea.

Alzheimer’s Disease

A progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized pathologically by cerebral cortical atrophy and clinically by memory loss, cognitive decline, disorientation, apraxia, impaired judgment, behavioral changes, and compromised oral hygiene.

Apraxia

The loss of the ability to execute a previously known or learned purposeful action or experience, despite preserved physical motor function and comprehension (observed in Alzheimer's disease).

Diabetic Neuropathy

A heterogeneous group of nerve disorders caused by chronic hyperglycemia-induced microvascular damage and metabolic stress, affecting both peripheral and autonomic nerves.

Glove-and-Stocking Distribution

A symmetrical pattern of sensory loss, paresthesia, burning pain, and numbness characteristically affecting the distal feet and lower extremities (and hands) in peripheral neuropathy.

Syncope

A transient, self-limiting loss of consciousness and postural tone caused by temporary global cerebral hypoperfusion, characterized by rapid onset, short duration, and spontaneous complete recovery.

Vasovagal Syncope (Neurocardiogenic)

A type of syncope triggered by strong emotion or pain resulting in hyper-parasympathetic tone that leads to bradycardia and systemic vasodilation, preceded by prodromal pale skin, sweating, and nausea, with rapid recovery upon lying flat.

Orthostatic Hypotension

A fall in blood pressure occurring when assuming an upright posture due to failure of the autonomic vasoconstrictor reflex, occurring without an emotional trigger.

Local Anesthetic Toxicity

Central nervous system toxicity caused by accidental intravascular injection of local anesthetic, presenting initially with excitatory signs (metallic taste, tinnitus, muscle twitching) followed by CNS depression and seizures.

Trendelenburg Position

A supine patient positioning technique with legs elevated $10 - 15$ ($10^\circ - 15^\circ$) used to improve venous return and global cerebral perfusion during the emergency management of syncope.