Abstract
Objective The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the relationship among pain intensity and duration, presence of tinnitus and quality of life in patients with chronic temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Material and Methods Fifty-nine female patients presenting with chronic TMD were selected from those seeking for treatment at the Bauru School of Dentistry Orofacial Pain Center. Patients were submitted to the Research Diagnostic Criteria anamnesis and physical examination. Visual analog scale was used to evaluate the pain intensity while pain duration was assessed by interview. Oral Health Impact Profile inventory modified for patients with orofacial pain was used to evaluate the patients' quality of life. The presence of tinnitus was assessed by self report. The patients were divided into: with or without self report of tinnitus. The data were analyzed statistically using the Student's t-test and Pearson's Chi-square test, with a level of significance of 5%. Results The mean age for the sample was 35.25 years, without statistically significant difference between groups. Thirty-two patients (54.24%) reported the presence of tinnitus. The mean pain intensity by visual analog scale was 77.10 and 73.74 for the groups with and without tinnitus, respectively. The mean pain duration was 76.12 months and 65.11 months for the groups with and without tinnitus, respectively. The mean OHIP score was 11.72 and 11.74 for the groups with and without tinnitus, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between groups for pain intensity, pain duration and OHIP scoreS (p>0.05). Conclusion Chronic TMD pain seems to play a more significant role in patient's quality of life than the presence of tinnitus.
Highlights
The word tinnitus is of Latin origin, meaning “to tinkle or to ring like a bell”
There are several theories regarding the pathophysiology of tinnitus, the precise mechanism remains to be elucidated7
The presence of tinnitus and duration of pain were determined by the RDC/temporomandibular disorders (TMD) questionnaire, which allowed obtaining the self-report of ear noises by the question “Do you have noises or ringing in your ears?” and the self report of pain duration by the question “How many years ago did your facial SDLQ DSSHDU IRU WKH ¿UVW WLPH" ́ 7KH 5'& SURWRFRO was applied to all patients by only one experienced and trained dentist
Summary
The word tinnitus is of Latin origin, meaning “to tinkle or to ring like a bell”. Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the absence of an apparent acoustic stimulus. People describe hearing different sounds: ringing, crickets, whooshing, pulsing, ocean waves, buzzing, and dial tones. W LV QRW D VSHFL¿F GLVHDVH HQWLW\ EXW UDWKHU a symptom, with many potential causes. There are several theories regarding the pathophysiology of tinnitus, the precise mechanism remains to be elucidated. Tinnitus may be related to otological, neurological and traumatic causes, DGYHUVH HIIHFWV RI GUXJV QXWULWLRQDO GH¿FLHQFLHV metabolic disturbances, dietary, depression and temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Patients with TMD report a higher prevalence
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