TO STUDY THE INFLUENCE OF MANDIBULAR EXERCISE ON PAIN, MOUTH OPENING AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN POST-SURGICAL ORAL CAVITY CANCER INDIVIDUALS WITH TRISMUS

Abstract

Trismus is defined as restricted mouth opening of 35 mm or less. Normal full opening is 40-50- millimeters. Trismus is not a disease it is well known complication of cancer in the oral cavity region(1). The prevalence of trismus ranges from 5 to 38%. It can result in problems with speech, oral hygiene dental treatment and mastication .Trisums impacts negatively on quality of life(2)Many stretching devices were adopted to enhance mouth opening like sledge hammer, surgical mouthprop, a tapered screw, a screw-type mouth gag fingers, tongue depressor, interarch springs , intra operatively fabricated self-curing bite block, has been used(3,14). All the above studies has given little information about mouth opening, conventional exercise therapy using tongue depressors, fingers, rubber plugs had minimal effect .Hence, the aim of the study is to find out the influence of exercise with tongue depressors on pain and mouth opening, in post surgical oral cavity cancer individuals with trismus.Results: The pre and post experimental mean value,t-test and p values of all the three outcomes that is pain (VAS) ,mouth opening, quality of life shows statistically highly significant values then the control group.Conclusion: There is increase in mouth opening and decreased in VAS with mandibular exercises in experimental group than conventional exercises in control group.