Treatment and follow-up of referred otic symptomatology in 23 patients with diagnosed temporomandibular disorders

Abstract

Reports of the cause and effect relationship between temporomandibular disorders and orofacial-otic symptoms are polemic. The current research had two aims: to explore the possible link between temporomandibular disorders and oticorofacial referred symptomatology and to emphasize their diagnostic importance. One hundred and sixty-five patients with temporomandibular dysfunction and otic symptoms but without ear, nose, paranasal sinuses and throat pathology, were referred from an otolaryngology clinic to an orofacial pain centre. Twenty-three patients (20 females and 3 males, age range 1466 years, median age 35 years) with otic symptoms and headache associated with temporomandibular disorders were selected as fulfilling the inclusion criteria for the research. In the follow-up, each patient received an intra-oral device and the treatment outcomes were evaluated monthly by visual analogue scales (VAS) for five months. During this time, a reduction of their symptomatology was observed with complete relief (headache and vertigo), partial symptom alleviation (tinnitus, otic fullness and otalgia) or without symptom alleviation (subjective hearing loss) in some patients. The time for resolution of symptoms varied with each patient. Team work (odontology-otolaryngology) and detailed evaluation criteria based on a completely structured interview and physical examination are necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of these symptoms, closing the wide breach existing between these health disciplines.