National Dental Assisting Examining Board (NDAEB) Practice Exam

What condition is characterized by paralysis of the facial nerve?

1. Trigeminal Neuralgia

2. Bell's Palsy

3. Temporomandibular Disorder

4. Myasthenia Gravis

The correct answer is: Bell's Palsy

Bell's Palsy is characterized by sudden, unilateral paralysis of the facial nerve, which affects the ability to control facial muscles on one side of the face. This condition often presents with symptoms such as facial droop, inability to close the eye, and alterations in taste, typically occurring without an identifiable cause. Understanding that Bell's Palsy involves the facial nerve specifically helps differentiate it from the other conditions listed. Trigeminal Neuralgia is more related to the trigeminal nerve, causing severe facial pain rather than paralysis. Temporomandibular Disorder primarily involves jaw pain and dysfunction rather than facial nerve paralysis. Myasthenia Gravis is an autoimmune disorder affecting nerve impulses but does not specifically paralyze the facial nerve; instead, it can lead to generalized muscle weakness. Thus, the defining feature of Bell's Palsy is the direct involvement and dysfunction of the facial nerve resulting in paralysis, distinguishing it clearly from the other conditions.