Are Temporomandibular Disorders and Tinnitus Associated?

AbstractAbstractThe current study aimed to research the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in patients with subjective tinnitus, as compared to controls, and the association between symptoms of TMD, tinnitus, and chronic pain. Two hundred patients were divided into two groups, according to the presence (experimental) or not (control) of subjective tinnitus. The subgroups were determined according to the RDC/TMD criteria. The Pain Pressure Threshold (PPT) values of the masseter and temporalis muscles were recorded bilaterally, and a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to address subjective pain. The most prevalent TMD subgroups in the tinnitus patients (p<0.05) were myofascial pain with limited opening (39.0%), disc displacement with reduction (44.33%), and arthralgia (53.54%). The severity of tinnitus was significantly associated with the severity of chronic pain (p=.000). The PPT values were lower (p>0.05), while the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was statistically higher (p=.000) for the tinnitus patients. These results suggest that an association exists between TMD and subjective tinnitus. Additional informationNotes on contributorsAline Dantas Diógenes SaldanhaDr. Aline Dantas Diógenes Saldanha received her D.D.S. degree in 2004 from the University of Fortaleza, Brazil, and her Master's degree in 2009 from the Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Brazil. She is currently a doctoral student at the Federal University of Ceará.Priscila Brenner HilgenbergDr. Priscila Brenner Hilgenberg recieved her D.D.S. degree in 2004 from the Federal University of Paraná, Brazil, and her Master's degree in 2009 from the Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Brazil. She is currently a doctoral student at Bauru School of Dentistry.Lívia Maria Sales PintoDr. Lívia Maria Sales Pinto received her D.D.S. degree in 2006 from the Federal University of Ceará, Brazil, and her Master's degree in 2011 from the Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Brazil. She is currently a doctoral student at the Bauru School of Dentistry.Paulo Cesar Rodrigues ContiDr. Paulo Conti received his D.D.S. degree in 1986 from the Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Brazil, and his Ph.D at the same school in 1993. He is currently a full professor at the Department of Prosthodontics. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orofacial Pain.