The occlusal imaging and analysis system by T-scan III in tinnitus patients

Background: Several studies have demonstrated that the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) in tinnitus patients ranges from 7% to 95%, and it is reported in literature that idiopathic tinnitus patients should be referred to a dentist to define whether or not the tinnitus is associated w...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Federica Di Berardino, Eliana Filipponi, Massimo Schiappadori, Stella Forti, Diego Zanetti, Antonio Cesarani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2016-04-01
Series:Biomedical Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2319417016300622
Description
Summary:Background: Several studies have demonstrated that the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) in tinnitus patients ranges from 7% to 95%, and it is reported in literature that idiopathic tinnitus patients should be referred to a dentist to define whether or not the tinnitus is associated with TMD. However, the possible pathophysiological relation between TMDs and tinnitus is not generally investigated in clinical practice. Methods: The patterns and forces of occlusal contacts have been studied by means of T-scan III in 47 tinnitus patients (23 suffering from idiopathic tinnitus and 24 affected by Ménière disease [MD]) and 13 healthy subjects. Results: The center of force target was offset in the opposite direction in 15/23 idiopathic tinnitus and in 7/24 MD patients (p = 0.026). No significant variation was found in the occlusal force. Conclusions: Our data suggest that a diagnostic screening method for occlusal stability in the intercuspidal position might be clinically useful in idiopathic tinnitus patients.
ISSN:2319-4170