Ear symptoms in patients with orofacial pain and dysfunction - An explorative study on different TMD symptoms, occlusion and habits

Abstract

Objectives: Ear symptoms coincident with TMD symptoms have been noticed for a long time. The aim was to investigate the relationship between reported ear symptoms in TMD patients and different TMD symptoms, dental occlusion, oral parafunction and habits.

Material and methods: Consecutive patients, ≥18 years of age and referred to a specialist clinic for orofacial pain and dysfunction during a three-month period, were considered for the study. Patients with poor general or psychiatric health were excluded. One hundred thirty-two patients were included and studied with regard to reported ear symptoms in relation to clinical dysfunction, occlusion, habits and subjective rating of their symptoms. A clinical examination was performed according to RDC/TMD and extended with occlusal factors, parafunctions and habits.

Results: Ear symptoms were reported by 72% of the TMD patients, with ear fullness in 49% as the most frequent symptom. The patients with ear symptoms were significantly older and proportionally more often females. Ear symptoms were significantly correlated to the subjective index, to myalgia (p = 0.003), decreased opening capacity (p = 0.01), TMJ pain (p = 0.02), parafunctions (p = 0.007), and some occlusal factor (p = 0.018-0.003). Muscle pain on palpation was significantly associated with ear fullness, and changed hearing and sensitivity to sound, on the same side (p < 0.005).

Conclusions: Ear symptoms are frequently reported by TMD patients. Concomitant ear symptoms are associated with oral parafunction and muscle pain on palpation on the same side as the ear symptoms.

Keywords: TMD; aural symptoms; chewing side; ear fullness; occlusion.