Effects of bilateral lingual and inferior alveolar nerve anesthesia effects on masticatory function and early swallowing

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether bilateral lingual and inferior alveolar nerve anesthesia affects the onset of swallowing including masticatory function.

Study design: Twenty young male volunteers were asked to chew and swallow corned beef and then a mixture of corned beef and liquid in their usual manner before and after local anesthesia. The oral and pharyngeal swallowing was investigated using videofluoroscopic examination in a lateral plane. Eight objective indicators including oral containment time, swallowing threshold, and pharynx-to-swallow interval were measured.

Results: Oral containment time and total sequence duration, total number of chews, and total number of swallows for the 2 test foods varied significantly between those before and after anesthesia. Individual pharynx-to-swallow intervals varied with both foods without remarkable increases or decreases in the swallow duration and cricopharyngeal opening time.

Conclusion: Bilateral lingual and inferior alveolar nerve anesthesia may affect early swallowing; changes in the onset of swallowing varied among the participants.