The effect of specially designed and managed occlusal devices on patient symptoms of tinnitus: A cohort study

ABSTRACT

Objective

Bioesthetic maxillary anterior guided orthoses (BMAGOs) were designed and adjusted to establish the mandibular location referred to as stable seated condylar position SSCP. This study demonstrates treatment efficacy of this device on tinnitus.

Methods

All patients had histories of temporomandibular disorder (TMD), head, neck and shoulder pain. Each patient wore the BMAGO at all times, eating, talking and sleeping with it functioning as a surrogate occlusion. Patients were seen every two weeks for adjustments. They were provided a self-reporting numeric rating scale (NRS) beginning each visit. NRS scores ranged from 0 to 10, with 10 being the highest intensity pain for 12 TMD symptoms including tinnitus.

Results

A significant decrease of tinnitus symptoms (p<.001) were recorded for all effected patients by visit #12.

Conclusions

These findings firmly support symptomatic reduction of tinnitus.

Keywords:

• BMAGO
• MAGO
• TMD pain
• tinnitus
• seated stable condylar position
• (SSCP)
• optimum occlusion
• Occlusal Device

Acknowledgments

Udo Oyoyo, Ph.D., Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, for his statistical expertise. Edwin Christiensen D.D.S., Prof. Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, for the use of his anatomical photos. Jeff Bloomquist, CDT, BDT, for use of photos for the Optimum Model of Occlusion. Ms. Carmen Fernandez for her help in creating the figures used.