Thermal Facial Profile and Orofacial Myofunctional Aspects in Movement Disorder Patients: Comparison Between Parkinson Disease and Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3.

Objective: To evaluate the orofacial myofunctional characteristics, masticatory performance and facial thermal profile in individuals with Parkinson disease (PD) and spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA3), comparing with healthy control ones.

Method: Seventy-two participants aged between 30 and 85 years were evaluated and divided into PD, SCA3 and control groups. The assessments included clinical evaluation using the Orofacial Myofunctional Evaluation with Scores protocol (orofacial structures, mastication, swallowing and breathing aspects), masticatory performance assessed with a colour-changeable chewing gum and infrared thermography.