Association between painful temporomandibular disorders, sleep bruxism and tinnitus

Associations between temporomandibular disorders and tinnitus - a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and tinnitus are highly prevalent conditions, that affects about 10-30% of the adult population and seem to co-exist. The primary objective of this systematic review was to investigate any associations between TMD and tinnitus. The secondary objective was to investigate if the associations differ between painful and non-painful TMDs.

METHODS

An electronic literature search in five databases was performed, from the inception of the databases until 26th of October 2022. This was to identify clinical trials with prevalence numbers of patients with TMD, with and without tinnitus and vice versa. From 1240 studies, a total number of 32 studies were included in the meta-analysis. A risk of bias analysis was made using the Methodological Evaluation of Observational Research (MORE).

RESULTS

Seventeen studies showed low risk of bias, while fifteen studies showed some risk of bias. Among patients with TMD, 57.5% also displayed tinnitus. In contrast, among patients with tinnitus, 92.9% also suffered from TMD. There was a strong association between patients with TMD that also had tinnitus, and patients with tinnitus that also had TMD (p's < 0.001). The odds ratio for TMD-patients also having tinnitus was 1.556 (p < .05), while it for tinnitus-patients also having TMD was 2.859 (p < .05). Six studies examined the psychological status, and there was a higher degree of psychosocial distress among patients with TMD and TMD/tinnitus.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a strong significant association between TMD and tinnitus, but further research is needed to unravel the nature of this association and its clinical implication.

Exploring the interplay of depression, sleep quality, and hearing in tinnitus-related handicap: insights from polysomnography and pure-tone audiometry

BACKGROUND

Tinnitus affects approximately 740 million adults globally, involving hearing, emotion, and sleep systems. However, studies using polysomnography and pure-tone audiometry (PTA) are limited. We aimed to assess the correlation between tinnitus and hearing, sleep quality, characteristics, and depression using polysomnography and PTA.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, we divided participants into tinnitus and non-tinnitus groups. We included 100 outpatients (65 with tinnitus, 35 without) from a medical center in Taiwan, who underwent polysomnography and completed rating scales including the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Chinese-Mandarin version of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI-CM). We analyzed correlations, conducted group comparisons, assessed factors related to THI-CM scores, constructed ROC curves to predict depression in the tinnitus group, and performed multinomial and logistic regression to explore associations.

RESULTS

Descriptive statistics identified a cohort with mean age 53.9 ± 12.80 years, 63% exhibited PHQ-9 scores ≥ 10, and 66% had Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) > 5. The ratio of rapid eye movement and deep sleep to stage 1 + 2 sleep was relatively low and non-significant. Likewise, leg movements was higher in the tinnitus group but not statistically significant. In the tinnitus group, 63.08% had depression, and 81.54% had AHI > 5. Univariate logistic regression linked tinnitus to AHI > 5 (Odds ratio (OR) 2.67, p = 0.026) and male sex (OR 2.49, p = 0.034). A moderate positive correlation was found between the THI-CM score and PHQ-9 score (rs = 0.50, p < 0.001). Further adjustment for obstructive sleep apnea showed associations between PHQ-9 (total score) or depression and THI-CM Grade 3-5 (OR = 1.28; OR = 8.68). Single- and multifactor regression analyses highlighted significant associations of PSQI scores > 13 (OR 7.06, p = 0.018) and THI-CM scores > 47 (OR 7.43, p = 0.002) with depression.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study recruited tinnitus participants with slight or mild hearing loss and mild tinnitus handicap. Depression was identified as a predominant factor in tinnitus-related handicap. The mild tinnitus handicap in tinnitus participants may explain the lack of significant differences in depression, sleep quality, and polysomnographic sleep characteristics between tinnitus and non-tinnitus groups. Further extensive and prospective studies are needed to elucidate the complex links among depression, sleep, and tinnitus.

Dental patients' tinnitus profile: prevalence, types, and associated factors with oral and maxillofacial diseases

INTRODUCTION

Maxillofacial diseases may pose a risk factor for the onset of tinnitus, and may influence the severity of its symptoms. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of tinnitus among patients routinely visiting the Faculty of Dentistry and to assess the relationship between tinnitus and maxillofacial diseases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted on 3,626 patients. Demographic data, information on tinnitus symptoms, temporomandibular disorder (TMD) presence, the existence of trigger points in masticatory muscles, toothache, and bruxism were evaluated.

RESULTS

Tinnitus was detected in 385 patients, resulting in a prevalence rate of 10.61%. Of the patients, 38.4% were male and 61.6% were female, and the mean age was 42.66 ± 16.34 years. Tinnitus was categorised as normal in 47.8% of the patients and pathological in 52.2% of the patients. Bruxism was identified in 65.5% of the patients, toothache in 42.9%, TMD in 33.8%, and masticatory trigger points in 27.0% of the patients. A tendency towards tinnitus provoked by toothache was observed in 5.9% of the patients. The presence of pathological tinnitus was found to increase the risk by 1.839 times for toothache and 1.456 times for bruxism.

CONCLUSION

There may be an association between oral and maxillofacial diseases and tinnitus, especially bruxism and toothache. Therefore, the evaluation of these conditions may be a routine part of tinnitus management.

Awake and Sleep Oral Behaviours in Patients With Painful Temporomandibular Disorders

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this research was to explore the oral behaviours exhibited by individuals with and without temporomandibular disorders (TMD) pain, and with various pain characteristics; and to determine which oral behaviour is correlated with painful TMD.

METHODS

328 patients with TMD who visited Orofacial Pain Clinic were included in this retrospective cross-sectional study. The patients were categorised into 2 groups-painful TMD and non-painful TMD-based on pain status; their other pain characteristics were recorded. To evaluate oral behaviours, researchers utilised the Oral Behaviors Checklist (OBC) and categorised into 3 levels based on the Diagnostic criteria for TMD scoring manual. To investigate the associations amongst demographic information, oral behaviour levels, and TMD pain status and characteristics, logistic regression was employed, whilst t tests were used to analyse OBC scores. Logistic regression was also used to examine individual oral behaviours in relation to specific pain characteristics.

RESULTS

Age and marital status were associated with TMD pain status. Significantly higher OBC scores were observed in chronic pain compared to acute pain group, but the scores were not significantly different for pain status and other pain characteristics. OBC score and level were associated solely with TMD pain chronicity. According to multivariate logistic regression, "clench or grind teeth when sleeping" was the strongest predictor of TMD pain and "place tongue forcibly against teeth" was the strongest predictor of chronic painful TMD.

CONCLUSIONS

High oral behaviour level and OBC scores were associated with chronic painful TMD. Sleep bruxism was the strongest predictor of TMD pain. Age and marital status were correlated with TMD pain status. In the treatment of TMD, there can be potential benefits in addressing and managing oral parafunctional behaviours.

Relationship between bruxism and smartphone overuse in young adults

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the possible relationship between bruxism and smartphone overuse and assess the potential role of anxiety and depression in this relationship. The null hypothesis was that there was no significant difference between sleep bruxism (SB) and/or awake bruxism (AB) and non-bruxers in the level of smartphone overuse, anxiety, and depression.

METHODS

In total, 167 dental students were included in this study. They were evaluated using the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) criteria, Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). T-test and chi-square test were used to compare the means and percentages between groups.

RESULTS

A higher percentage of sleep bruxers were high smartphone users (60.3%) compared to non-SBs (44.2%). The frequencies of high smartphone users among participants with high anxiety and depression were higher than those with low anxiety and depression.

CONCLUSION

SB and high smartphone use were positively associated.

REM Sleep Impairment May Underlie Sleep-Driven Modulations of Tinnitus in Sleep Intermittent Tinnitus Subjects: A Controlled Study

(1) Background: Poor sleep and fragmented sleep are associated with several chronic conditions. Tinnitus is an auditory symptom that often negatively combines with poor sleep and has been associated with sleep impairment and sleep apnea. The relationship between tinnitus psychoacoustic characteristics and sleep is still poorly explored, notably for a particular subgroup of patients, for whom the perceived loudness of their tinnitus is highly modulated by sleep. (2) Methods: For this observational prospective study, 30 subjects with tinnitus were recruited, including 15 "sleep intermittent tinnitus" subjects, who had reported significant modulations of tinnitus loudness related to night sleep and naps, and a control group of 15 subjects displaying constant non-sleep-modulated tinnitus. The control group had matching age, gender, self-reported hearing loss grade and tinnitus impact on quality of life with the study group. All patients underwent a polysomnography (PSG) assessment for one complete night and then were asked to fill in a case report form, as well as a report of tinnitus loudness before and after the PSG. (3) Results: "Sleep Intermittent tinnitus" subjects had less Stage 3 sleep (p < 0.01), less Rapid-Eye Movement (REM) Sleep (p < 0.05) and more Stage 2 sleep (p < 0.05) in proportion and duration than subjects from the control group. In addition, in the "sleep Intermittent tinnitus" sample, a correlation was found between REM sleep duration and tinnitus overnight modulation (p < 0.05), as well as tinnitus impact on quality of life (p < 0.05). These correlations were not present in the control group. (4) Conclusions: This study suggests that among the tinnitus population, patients displaying sleep-modulated tinnitus have deteriorated sleep quality. Furthermore, REM sleep characteristics may play a role in overnight tinnitus modulation. Potential pathophysiological explanations accounting for this observation are hypothesized and discussed.

Probable bruxism effects on masseter muscle thickness in children: ultrasonographic evaluation

OBJECTIVE

To compare the masseter muscle thickness (MMT) of patients with probable sleep/awake bruxism and controls without bruxism in mixed dentition as measured with ultrasonography (USG), and to calculate the correlation of MMT with body mass index (BMI).

STUDY DESIGN

The diagnosis of probable bruxism was established based on the parents' reports of the children's behavior, habits, and discomfort, and the presence of clinical signs and symptoms such as attrition-type wear on the teeth and the presence of discomfort, fatigue, and/or pain in the jaw muscles on palpation during clinical examination. The bruxist study group and the control group each included 28 children. MMT was measured separately in relaxed and contracted positions in both groups using USG. The height and weight of the patients were recorded in order to calculate BMI. Statistical analysis was performed with significance established at P < .05.

RESULTS

MMT was found to be significantly larger in the study patients than in controls on the right and left sides in the relaxed and contracted positions (P < .001). No statistically significant correlation was found between MMT and BMI (P ≥ .134).

CONCLUSIONS

MMT as measured with USG can be a beneficial approach in diagnosing bruxism in children. The lack of correlation between MMT and BMI indicates that BMI would not be helpful in diagnosing bruxism.

Is there any association between sleep disorder and temporomandibular joint dysfunction in adults? - A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To answer the question, "Is there any association between sleep disorder and temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD) in adults?"

METHODS

This study followed PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO. As eligibility criteria, observational studies that evaluated the association between sleep disorder and TMD were included. Exclusion criteria included a) studies that evaluated sleep quality and not the association of sleep disorders with TMD, b) experimental studies, book chapters, conference proceedings, and systematic reviews. The Joanna Briggs Institute tool was used to assess the risk of bias.

RESULTS

In the literature search, 3425 articles were found. After the exclusion of duplicates, 2752 were selected for reading the title and abstract, of which 26 were read in full, and 18 met eligibility criteria.

CONCLUSION

The association of sleep bruxism with TMD is controversial. While, for obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, snoring, and gastroesophageal reflux, the analyzed studies showed a positive association.

Prevalence and associated risk factors of tinnitus among adult Palestinians: a cross-sectional study

Tinnitus is a common complaint with potentially negative impact on quality of life. Prevalence of tinnitus ranges from 5 to 43% worldwide. This variation could be due to the heterogeneity of tinnitus assessment. This has limited the progress in understanding tinnitus. Therefore, we employed a standardized and a validated assessment method to determine the prevalence and related risk factors of tinnitus among Palestinians for the first time. This is a cross-sectional study in which we questioned a representative sample of 618 subjects in one-to-one interviews. The prevalence of any tinnitus was 30.6% among adult Palestinians. Participants from the oldest age group were almost five times more likely to have tinnitus. Moreover, participants with head and neck pain syndrome, severe hearing impairment, sleeping disorders or frequent complaints of vertigo were approximately two times more likely to have tinnitus. Our study provides novel information regarding tinnitus in Palestine and improves our understanding of tinnitus. This will improve the diagnosis and consequently will contribute in reducing the prevalence and perhaps in preventing tinnitus. As tinnitus still has no known cure, further investigations of modifiable risk factors and causes of tinnitus are crucial to prevent it in the future.

Systems Medicine Approach for Tinnitus with Comorbid Disorders

Despite the fact that chronic diseases usually occur together with a spectrum of possible comorbidities that may differ strongly between patients, they are classically still viewed as distinct disease entities and, consequently, are often treated with uniform therapies. Unfortunately, such an approach does not take into account that different combinations of symptoms and comorbidities may result from different pathological (e.g., environmental, genetic, dietary, etc.) factors, which require specific and individualised therapeutic strategies. In this opinion paper, we aim to put forward a more differentiated, systems medicine approach to disease and patient treatment. To elaborate on this concept, we focus on the interplay of tinnitus, depression, and chronic pain. In our view, these conditions can be characterised by a variety of phenotypes composed of variable sets of symptoms and biomarkers, rather than distinct disease entities. The knowledge of the interplay of such symptoms and biomarkers will provide the key to a deeper, mechanistic understanding of disease pathologies. This paves the way for prediction and prevention of disease pathways, including more personalised and effective treatment strategies.

Polysomnographic Evaluation of Sleep Bruxism Intensity and Sleep Architecture in Nonapneic Hypertensives: A Prospective, Observational Study

Sleep bruxism (SB) is a repetitive jaw muscle activity characterized by clenching or grinding of the teeth, which is classified under sleep-related movement disorders in the International Classification of Sleep Disorders—Third Edition. Because the potential common pathomechanism of SB and arterial hypertension is the activation of the sympathetic system as well as an increase in inflammatory factors, we aimed to examine the intensity of SB and the sleep architecture among patients with arterial hypertension. The study included a total of 91 Caucasian adult patients, among whom 31 had arterial hypertension diagnosed according to the current European Society of Cardiology/European Society of Hypertension (ESC/EHS) hypertension guidelines. The control group consisted of 61 normotensive patients. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea were excluded. A single full-night polysomnographic examination was conducted in the Sleep Laboratory, and then the results were analyzed based on the guidelines of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Bruxism episode index (BEI) was higher in the hypertensive group compared to normotensives. The groups also showed statistically significant differences in polysomnographic sleep indexes. Similar to BEI, arousal index, apnea–hypopnea index, and snoring were higher in hypertensives compared to normotensives. On the other hand, the mean and minimal oxygen saturation were lower in hypertensives compared to normotensives. A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between oxygen desaturation index and BEI in the hypertensive group, whereas this correlation was not statistically significant in the case of normotensives. In summary, nonapneic hypertensives had higher SB intensity, altered sleep architecture, decreased mean oxygen saturation, and increased snoring compared to normotensives. The results suggest that dental screening is necessary for patients with arterial hypertension, especially those presenting with the symptoms of SB.

Temporomandibular Disorders and Bruxism in Patients Attending a Tinnitus Clinic

The current study investigated the coexistence of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) and/or bruxism among 51 individuals seeking treatment in a tinnitus clinic. All participants completed a Hebrew version of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), depression and anxiety questionnaires, and the diagnostic criteria TMD (DC/TMD) questionnaire. In addition to questionnaires, the participants underwent a clinical evaluation of the oral cavity, facial muscles, and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Thirty-four participants (66.7%) were diagnosed with bruxism, while TMD was found in 14 (27.5%) of the cases. Patients with both tinnitus, TMD and bruxism scored the highest in the anxiety questionnaire. The severity of depression was found to be significantly associated with the tinnitus severity. These results emphasize the clinical bond between tinnitus, TMD, and bruxism.

Is there a comorbid relationship between temporomandibular disorders and otologic signs/symptoms?: An umbrella review

OBJECTIVE

This umbrella review (UR) explored the possible associations between temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and otologic signs/symptoms (OSs) and established the potential impact of TMD interventions on OSs.

METHODS

A systematic review of systematic reviews (SRs)/meta-analyses (MAs) was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines and Joanna Briggs Institute UR protocol. Electronic search of the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Open Grey databases was conducted and the quality of the identified studies was assessed using the AMSTAR2 criteria.

RESULTS

Out of 923 and 157 articles screened for the first and second focus questions respectively, a total of 8 SRs/MAs fulfilled the eligibility criteria. The prevalence of OSs in TMD patients and contrariwise varied substantially up to 85.0-95.0%. Available evidence indicates that TMDs are associated with OSs, and TMD treatment reduced OSs.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that a comorbid relationship between TMDs and OSs exists, and therapeutic TMD interventions improve OSs.

Association between Stigma and Pain in Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to explore the association between stigma and pain in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs).

METHODS

Two hundred and twenty-five patients with TMDs were recruited, and they completed the questionnaires including the Visual Analogue Scale of Pain (VAS), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item (GAD-7), the Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item (PHQ-9), Jaw Functional Limitation Scale 8-item (JFLS-8), the Stigma Scale for Chronic Illness 8-item (SSCI-8), and other demographic and disease-related information. The total score of SSCI-8 indicated overall stigma, which could be classified into 2 subdomains, felt stigma and enacted stigma, according to their representative items, respectively. Then, the patients were divided into 2 groups in each subdomain of stigma according to their scores: stigma group (score ≥ 1) and no stigma group (score = 0).

RESULTS

Patients with overall stigma and enacted stigma presented significantly higher scores in VAS, GAD-7, PHQ-9, and JFLS-8 than those without overall stigma and those without enacted stigma, respectively. Significant differences between patients with and without felt stigma were only observed in GAD-7, PHQ-9, and JFLS-8. Patients with overall stigma and enacted stigma mainly suffered from pain-related TMDs (PTs) and combined TMDs (CTs). Overall stigma and enacted stigma rather than felt stigma were significantly associated with both PTs and CTs. Stigma, including overall stigma, enacted stigma, and felt stigma, was more associated with anxiety and depression and less related to jaw functional limitation of the patients with TMDs.

CONCLUSION

Stigma, specifically enacted stigma, was correlated to pain in patients with TMDs. Stigma was more related to psychological problems than jaw functional limitation.

Association between Self-Reported Bruxism, Peripartum Depression and Myogenous Temporomandibular Disorders among Postpartum Women in Turkey

Background/Aim: It is possible to find studies in the literature evaluating the relationship among self-reported bruxism, psychological factors, and myogenous temporomandibular disorder. In addition, the relationship between these issues has not yet been clarified. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between peripartum depression, self-reported bruxism, and myogenous temporomandibular disorders among postpartum women in Turkey.

Material and Methods: This study included 220 women, whom were asked about their bruxism behaviour during day and during sleep. Besides, all of them assessed with Short-Form Fonseca’s Anamnestic Index for myogenous temporomandibular disorder and the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale for peripartum depression.

Results: The results showed that, self-reported bruxism was observed at a statistically significantly higher rate (94.3%) in peripartum depression group. 86.5% of the patients with self-reported bruxism had myogenous temporomandibular disorder (p<0.001). As a result, 80.0% of the patients with peripartum depression had myogenous temporomandibular disorder (p<0.001).

Conclusions: In conclusion, a significant relationship has been found between peripartum depression and self-reported bruxism, self-reported bruxism and myogenous temporomandibular disorder, and peripartum depression and myogenous temporomandibular disorder. The present study is the first to evaluate the relationship between peripartum depression, self-reported bruxism, and myogenous temporomandibular disorder so it could be considered as a pilot attempt, and further studies using more representative samples are encouraged.

Evaluation of Changes in Depression Levels of Bruxism Patients Treated With Botulinum Toxin-A

Aim:

Bruxism is defined as the involuntary recurrent masticatory muscle activity characterized by gnashing, grinding, clenching of teeth, and/or pushing the mandible. Factors creating its etiology are peripheral (morphological) or central (physiopathological and physiological), and exogenous. Recently, among physiological factors, depression and bruxism were considered to be related. A definitive treatment method does not exist for bruxism; however, botulinum toxin-A (BT-A) application is an up-to-date and effective way of treatment. The present study is aimed to evaluate the levels of depression in bruxism patients treated with BT-A application.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 25 individuals (23 females and 2 males) who were diagnosed as bruxism patients were included in the study. 25 U of BT-A for each masseter muscle was injected into the patients. Patients were prospectively observed for a possible change in depression levels by using Beck’s Depression Inventory. The inventory was implemented before and six months after the BT-A application. Depression levels before and six months after the injection were compared. A paired t-test was used to compare “before” and “after” treatment values. One-way analysis of variance and post-hoc Tukey tests were used to evaluate the change in Beck’s Depression Inventory scores according to age groups.

Results:

The mean total score was 7.80 ± 8.10 before the treatment and 7.16 ± 6.52 six months after the treatment. The decrease in the mean score was not statistically significant ( P > .05).

Conclusion:

In conclusion, despite the decrease in the mean Beck’s Depression Inventory scores, a statistically significant decrease in the depression levels of patients was not observed.

Total Antioxidant Capacity, Catalase Activity and Salivary Oxidative Parameters in Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders

Objectives:

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are characterized by pain or discomfort in the temporomandibular joint, periauricular region, masticatory muscles, and neck on one or both sides. It may also be associated with joint sounds, restricted mandibular movements and mandibular deviation. Oxidative agents may have a deleterious role in the pathogenesis of joint diseases, and oxidative stress can lead to TMD. The aim of this study was to assess the oxidative stress biomarkers in the saliva of TMD patients and healthy controls.

Materials and Methods:

This case-control study was conducted on 30 patients with TMDs (5 males and 25 females) with a mean age of 30.7±13.2 years, and 30 healthy controls (5 males and 25 females) with a mean age of 29.16±11.2 years. Saliva samples were collected according to the standard protocol and the total antioxidant capacity of the saliva (non-enzymatic), catalase activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured using the ferric reducing ability of plasma, Aebi’s method, and high-performance liquid chromatography, respectively. Finally, The MDA levels were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney test. Other quantitative parameters were analyzed by independent t-test.

Results:

TMD patients had significantly higher salivary levels of MDA compared to the control group (P=0.001). But there were no significant differences in catalase (P=0.49) and total antioxidant capacity (P=0.22) of TMD patients and healthy controls.

Conclusion:

It seems that oxidative stress may be involved in the pathogenesis of TMDs.

Microscopic reconstruction and immunohistochemical analysis of discomalleolar ligament

Discomalleolar ligament represents the vestiges of the primitive lateral pterygoid muscle which penetrates in the caudal end of Meckel's cartilage; during the development of newborn, the petrotympanic fissure close almost completely leaving inside the discomalleolar ligament. After entering in tympanic cavity, some fibers of the discomalleolar ligament insert to walls of cavity, other fibers continue with the lateral margin of the anterior ligament and insert in the neck of malleus; in contrast, other Authors demonstrated that discomalleolar ligament is an independent structure inserted in proximity of the neck of the malleus. Although the discomalleolar ligament can be considered as a structure of clinical importance, it is not described by anatomy textbooks. Moreover, it is likely that important correlations between temporomandibular diseases and otological symptoms exist. We have studied discomalleolar ligament submitting the specimens to the 3D volume rendering technique, light microscopy, reconstructing a wide light microscopic fields to analyze the real connection between retrodiscal connective tissue and middle ear, and immunofluorescence methods in order to analyze the consistence of ligament. We have shown two types of connections between TMJ and ear: first, with external acoustic meatus and, second, with middle ear through discomalleolar ligament. The different insertion represents a strong support in order to demonstrate that the TMJ disorders can determine variations of tension that are transmitted on the tympanic membrane provoking tinnitus in according to clinical features. Then, we propose that it is necessary to mention, also in anatomy textbook, the discomalleolar ligament as ligament distance of TMJ.

Tinnitus-related distress and pain perceptions in patients with chronic tinnitus - Do psychological factors constitute a link?

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the co-occurrence of tinnitus-related distress and pain experiences alongside psychological factors that may underlie their association.

METHOD

Patients with chronic tinnitus (N = 1238) completed a questionnaire battery examining tinnitus-related distress and affective and sensory pain perceptions. A series of simple, parallel- and serial multiple mediator models examined indirect effects of psychological comorbidities as well as -process variables including depressivity, perceived stress and coping attitudes. Moderator and moderated mediation analyses examined differential relational patterns in patients with decompensated vs. compensated tinnitus.

RESULTS

There were significant associations between tinnitus-related distress and pain perceptions. These were partially mediated by most specified variables. Psychological comorbidities appeared to influence tinnitus-pain associations through their impact on depressivity, perceived stress, and coping attitudes. Some specific differences in affective vs. sensory pain perception pathways emerged. Patients with decompensated tinnitus yielded significantly higher symptom burden across all measured indices. Tinnitus decompensation was associated with heightened associations between [1] tinnitus-related distress and pain perceptions, depressivity and negative coping attitudes; and [2] most psychological comorbidities and sensory, but not affective pain perception. Moderated mediation analyses revealed stronger indirect effects of depressivity and anxiety in mediating affective-, and anxiety in mediating sensory pain perception in patients with decompensated tinnitus.

CONCLUSION

Psychological constructs mediate the co-occurrence of tinnitus- and pain-related symptoms across different levels of tinnitus-related distress. Psychological treatment approaches should conceptualize and address individualised interactions of common cognitive-emotional processes in addressing psychosomatic symptom clusters across syndromatic patients with varying distress levels.

[Study on the correlation between the mandibular masticatory muscle movement and sleep tooth wear]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the correlation between the clinical diagnostic criteria of sleep bruxism and the frequency of mandibular movements during sleep.

METHODS

Video polysomnography was used to record 20 healthy adults with at least one of the following clinical symptoms and signs: 1) report of frequent tooth grinding; 2) tooth wear and dentin exposure with at least three occlusal surfaces; 3) masticatory muscle symptoms in the morning; 4) masseter muscle hypertrophy. The rhythmic masticatory muscle activity (RMMA) and isolated tonic activity were scored to compare the correlations with clinical symptoms and signs. Finally, the incidence of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) was investigated in patients with isolated tonic and RMMA subjects.

RESULTS

Among the 20 subjects, RMMA events were observed (5.8±3.1) times·h⁻¹ and isolated tonic episodes were observed (2.1±0.9) times·h⁻¹. The frequency of RMMA events was significantly greater in the patients with acoustic molars than in those without (P<0.05). Similarly, the frequency of RMMA events was significantly greater in the patients with tooth attrition than in those without (P<0.05). However, no difference was observed between the occurrence of RMMA and the symptoms of masticatory muscles or masseter hypertrophy in the morning. The incidence of TMD was significantly higher in the patients with RMMA than in the isolated tonic patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical symptoms and signs often used to diagnose sleep bruxism are different clinical and physiological mandibular movements during sleep. RMMA during sleep can reflect the occurrence of tooth attrition and the high risk of TMD.

The discomallear ligament: anatomical, microscopical, and radiologic analysis

BACKGROUND

Several anatomic relationships between the ear and the temporo-mandibular joint have been proposed to account for the presence of tinnitus during temporo-mandibular disorders. Among the otomandibular structures, the discomallear ligament (DML) is interposed between the malleus and the retrodiscal capsular complex. The aim of present paper was to study through dissection the frequency and morphology of DML, to characterize its type of collagen, and to evaluate the DML on routine computed tomography (CT).

METHODS AND RESULTS

The study has been conducted on five un-embalmed adult cadavers, and in all cases, the DML was present (100%). It was constituted mainly by fibers of collagen I, with abundant elastic fibers. On CT exams of 40 patients with no reported pathology of the ear, on axial images, a dense structure, going from the upper end of the petrotympanic fissure to the neck of the malleus, was present in all the cases. In 90%, it showed a triangular shape, in 5% a rectangular shape, and in 5% a curved course. The mean length of the antero-medial side was 2 ± 0.6 mm and that of the antero-lateral side was 1.63 ± 0.5, and the mean area was 1.29 ± 0.83 mm².

CONCLUSION

The DML could represent an anatomical structure that joining the temporo-mandibular joint and the malleus may play a role in the otologic symptoms during temporo-mandibular disorders.

The Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Temporomandibular Joint to Investigate Tinnitus in Adults with Temporomandibular Joint Disorder: A Comparative Study

Introduction  The prevalence of tinnitus is higher in individuals with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) than in the general population. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the method of choice for investigation, and it has been hypothesized that specific MRI findings might be observed in TMD with comorbid tinnitus.

Objective  To comparatively describe MRI findings in patients with TMD with and without tinnitus, identifying the most common TMJ alterations and determining whether a correlation exists between severity of TMD and tinnitus.

Methods  A cross-sectional study of 53 adult patients with bilateral or unilateral TMD (30 with and 23 without tinnitus). The association between tinnitus and morphological aspects of TMD (changes in condylar morphology, articular eminence morphology, and disc morphology), disc displacement (with/without reduction), condylar translation, and intra-articular effusion was analyzed on MRI images.

Results  The mean patient age was 46.12 ± 16.1 years. Disc displacement was the most common finding in both groups (24 patients with tinnitus versus 15 without; p  = 0.043). Only the frequency of disc displacement with reduction was significantly different between groups.

Conclusion  Additional imaging techniques should be explored to detect specific aspects of the relationship between tinnitus and TMD.

Correlation between Sleep Bruxism, Stress, and Depression-A Polysomnographic Study

Background and objectives: Sleep bruxism is a common phenomenon that can affect approximately 13% of adult population. It is estimated that bruxism can be caused by three types of factors: biological, psychological, and exogenous. There are many scientific reports about the coexistence of bruxism, stress, and psychoemotional disorders. The aim of this study is to evaluate the possible correlation between occurrence of sleep bruxism and perceived stress and depressive symptoms. Material and methods: The material of this study consisted of 77 patients of Clinic of Prosthetic Dentistry operating at the Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland in which after using guidelines of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine probable sleep bruxism was fund. Patients then underwent video-polysomnography. Exposure to perceived stress was evaluated with Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10). Occurrence of depressive symptoms was evaluated with Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI). Results: The analysis showed lack of statistically significant correlation between Bruxism Episodes Index (BEI) and Perceived Stress Scale–10 and Beck’s Depression Inventory scores (p = 0.64, p = 0.65; respectively), also when comparing study group (bruxers) and control group (non-bruxers) (p = 0.88, p = 0.77; respectively). Conclusion: Intensity of sleep bruxism was not statistically significantly correlated with self-reported perceived stress and depression. This issue requires further research.

Impact of Temporomandibular Joint Complaints on Tinnitus-Related Distress

There is increasing evidence of associations between the presence of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders and tinnitus. It has been recently proposed that tinnitus patients with TMJ complaints could constitute a subtype, meaning a subgroup of tinnitus patients responsive to specific treatments. Tinnitus patients with TMJ complaints are often young women with somatosensory features of their tinnitus. Here, we investigate the socio-economic factors, phenotypic characteristics and psychological variables of tinnitus subjects from the Swedish Tinnitus Outreach Project, with (n = 486) or without (n = 1,996) TMJ complaints. The prevalence of TMJ complaints was greater in tinnitus subjects with severe tinnitus (36%) when compared to those with any tinnitus (19%), strongly indicating the contribution of TMJ problems to the severity of tinnitus. Comparing subgroups with or without TMJ complaints in the whole sample, differences were found regarding a large number of socioeconomic, phenotypic, and psychological characteristics. Subjects with TMJ complaints were more often women, more often reported stress as the cause of tinnitus, were more severely affected by tinnitus, scored worse in measures of psychological well-being and life quality, and were more often affected by problems tolerating sounds, headache, vertigo/dizziness, and neck pain. In addition, they more often reported pulsating and tonal tinnitus, somatic modulation of tinnitus, and aggravation of tinnitus by loud sounds and stress. When focusing the analysis in subjects with tinnitus as a big problem using the Tinnitus Functional Index cut-off ≥ 48, or with severe tinnitus according to the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory cut-off ≥ 58, the impact of somatosensory modulations and stress on tinnitus were greater in subjects with TMJ complaints in comparison to those without. In light of these results, we hypothesize that stress could contribute to the co-occurrence of TMJ problems and tinnitus and also to the development of severe tinnitus. Our study supports the need of involving dental care and stress management in the holistic treatment of patients with severe tinnitus.

Sleep Bruxism and Pain

Bruxism is an oral behavior that may lead to repetitive jaw-muscle activity characterized by clenching or grinding of the teeth and/or by bracing or thrusting of the mandible with 2 distinct circadian manifestations: sleep bruxism or awake bruxism. They share common risk factors and lead to similar consequences for the masticatory system but may have different etiology and pathophysiology. This oral behavior has been associated with tooth wear, masticatory muscle tenderness, headaches, and painful temporomandibular disorders. Available scientific evidence does not support the view that bruxism is a direct cause of pain, which should be taken into account when treating/managing patients.

Tinnitus as a comorbidity to temporomandibular disorders-A systematic review

The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the prevalence of tinnitus in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and the possible effects of TMD treatment on tinnitus symptoms. A search of the PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane databases from inception of each database up to January 2017 found 222 articles. After independent screening of abstracts by two of the authors, we assessed 46 articles in full text. The inclusion and exclusion criteria reduced these to 25 articles of which 22 studies reported prevalence based on 13 358 patients and 33 876 controls, and eight studies reported effect of TMD treatment on tinnitus based on 536 patients and 18 controls. The prevalence of tinnitus in patients with TMD varied from 3.7% to 70% (median 42.3%) whereas the prevalence in control groups without TMD varied between 1.7% and 26% (median 12%). The eight treatment studies indicated that treatment of TMD symptoms may have a beneficial effect on severity of tinnitus. However, only one treatment study included a control group, meaning that the overall level of evidence is low. The finding that tinnitus is more common in patients with TMD means that it can be regarded as a comorbidity to TMD. However, in view of the lack of evidence currently available, further well-designed and randomised studies with control groups are needed to investigate whether possible mechanisms common to tinnitus and TMD do exist and whether TMD treatment can be justified to try to alleviate tinnitus in patients with TMD and comorbidity of tinnitus.

Is there a higher prevalence of tinnitus in patients with temporomandibular disorders? A systematic review and meta-analysis

The aim of this study was to determine whether there exists a higher prevalence of tinnitus in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) than in patients without TMDs. A systematic review was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE for articles published between January 1992 and April 2018 in accordance with the PRISMA statement. Studies were included in this review only if they assessed TMDs using the research diagnostic criteria (RDC)/TMD or DC/TMD. A total of five studies were included in the systematic review, and a random-effects meta-analysis of three of the studies was conducted. In all of the selected studies, the prevalence of tinnitus was higher in patients with TMDs (35.8% to 60.7%) than in patients without TMDs (9.7% to 26.0%). The odds ratio of suffering from tinnitus among patients with TMDs was 4.45 (95% CI 1.64-12.11. P = 0.003). Thus, despite the limitations of the included studies, this review demonstrates that the prevalence of tinnitus in TMD patients is significantly higher than that in patients without TMD.

Association between temporomandibular disorders, chronic diseases, and ophthalmologic and otolaryngologic disorders in Korean adults: A cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are common musculoskeletal conditions in the maxillofacial area. Although strong relationships between TMDs and other pain and diseases exist, few studies have comprehensively assessed the association between chronic diseases, ophthalmologic and otolaryngologic disorders and TMD.

METHODS

Of 25,534 individuals included in the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010-2012), 17,575 aged ≥20 years who completed survey items on TMD symptoms were included for cross-sectional analysis. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between chronic diseases, ophthalmologic and otolaryngologic disorders and examination findings, and TMD symptoms after adjusting for various confounding variables.

RESULTS

Out of 17,575 participants, 2,059 (11.75%) reported experience of ≥1 TMD symptom(s). Compared to individuals without chronic disease, those with asthma (odds ratio (OR) 1.46; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09-1.96), migraine (1.44; 1.26-1.65), osteoarthritis (1.51; 1.20-1.89), thyroid dysfunction (1.49; 1.13-1.96), and depressive symptoms (1.51; 1.29-1.77) had higher ORs for TMD prevalence. Participants with tinnitus (1.97; 1.70-2.27), hearing difficulties (1.55; 1.29-1.87), dizziness (1.52; 1.27-1.82), rhinitis (1.46; 1.28-1.65), and xerophthalmia (1.82; 1.57-2.12) also displayed higher ORs for TMD prevalence. Patients diagnosed with chronic rhinosinusitis upon otolaryngologic examination exhibited an OR of 1.44 (95% CI 1.11-1.87) for TMD prevalence, while that for individuals with abnormal laryngoscopic results was 0.57 (95% CI 0.36-0.90).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings imply that TMDs, chronic diseases, and ophthalmologic and otolaryngologic disorders hold various correlations, suggesting the need for multitarget approaches to effectively address this phenomenon.

The potential etiologic factors influencing tinnitus intensity in patients with temporomandibular disorders

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the potential relationships between the intensity of tinnitus associated with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and potential etiologic factors, including age, gender, freeway space, sleep bruxism (SB), joint clicking, and headache.

METHODS

The sample was comprised of 90 patients without any hearing loss, as confirmed by otorhinolaryngology, who self-reported subjective tinnitus and simultaneous TMD, based on the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (RDC/TMD).

RESULTS

The results showed a positive, weak correlation between the intensity of tinnitus and age (r = 0.225, p = 0.033). The presence of SB and headache were seen in higher proportions in the present sample, at 75.5% (n = 68) and 66.6% (n = 60), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In a population of patients with subjective tinnitus and TMD, no significant associations were found between tinnitus intensity and age, freeway space, SB, clicking presence, and headache, though gender did show a weak correlation with tinnitus intensity.

Sleep and awake bruxism in adults and its relationship with temporomandibular disorders: A systematic review from 2003 to 2014

OBJECTIVE

In order to establish a relationship between bruxism and temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), a systematic review was performed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic research was performed based on PubMed, Cochrane Library, Medline, Embase, BIREME, Lilacs and Scielo data bases, between 2003 and 2014 including all languages. Descriptive clinical cases were identified. Two independent authors selected the articles. PICO format was used to analyse the studies and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to verify the quality of the evidence.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine studies (n = 39) were analysed in this review. According to bruxism diagnosis, articles were grouped as follows: polysomnographic diagnosis (PSG) (n = 7), clinical diagnosis (n = 11) and survey/self-report (n = 21). Thirty-three articles (n = 33) established a positive relation between bruxism and TMD and six (n = 6) did not. Quality of evidence was low to moderate. In general, the most part of the studies showed shortcomings on their design with bias risk, and also had a low sensitivity on bruxism diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The evidence based on PSG was not as conclusive as the studies that used surveys and clinical exam to diagnosis bruxism, when bruxism was related to TMD. Sleep bruxism could be associated with myofascial pain, arthralgia and joint pathology as disc displacement and joint noises. Although the evidence at present is inconclusive and does not provide information according to the type of bruxism (bruxism sleep and wakefulness), it is possible to suggest that bruxism would be associated with TMD.

Prevalence of bruxism in undergraduate students

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of bruxism in students at the Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys in Brazil. The secondary objectives were to identify the factors associated with bruxism; prevalence of dental wear; and to distinguish the signs and symptoms of temporomandibular dysfunction when present, and verify its relationship with bruxism.

METHODS

Two hundred fifty-three students (106 males, 147 females) were clinically examined and answered a questionnaire. Trained researchers performed the dental wear evaluation. The incisal edge and occlusal surface were classified as follows: no wear, wear into enamel, wear into dentin, and extensive wear into dentin. Demographic data and factors related to bruxism were obtained by a questionnaire. The participants who presented dental wear and habit of clenching/grinding teeth were classified as bruxers. The data were analyzed by the SPSS program (p < 0.05).

RESULTS

The results showed that 31.6% of the students had bruxism. Of the 7084 teeth evaluated, 376 (5.3%) had some type of facet wear. The teeth that had the highest prevalence of wear facets were the canines. Stress, muscle pain, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, and TMJ noise were significantly associated with bruxism (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of bruxism was 31.6% in this population. The factors most associated with bruxism were stress, muscle pain, TMJ pain, and TMJ noise.

Correlation Between Tinnitus and Petrotympanic Fissure Status Among Patients With Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between tinnitus and petrotympanic fissure (PTF) subtypes in patients diagnosed with temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred patients with TMD (50 with tinnitus, 50 without tinnitus) were evaluated retrospectively using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). CBCT images were analyzed according to PTF subtype diagnosis (types 1 to 3). PTF structure was classified as type 1 (wide tubular formation), type 2 (double conical structure), or type 3 (single conical structure).

RESULTS

Although there was a negative correlation between tinnitus and PTF type (P < .001), there was no correlation between age and tinnitus or between age and subtype of PTF. There was no significant association between gender and tinnitus or PTF type (P > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

A short, wide PTF (type 1) might be associated with an increased incidence of tinnitus in patients with TMD.