title: Otologic symptoms of temporomandibular disorder and effect of orofacial myofunctional therapy.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of otologic symptoms and their relationship to orofacial signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorder (TMD), and the effect of orofacial myofunctional therapy. The study was conducted on eight asymptomatic subjects (Group C) and 20 subjects with articular TMD, randomly distributed over two groups: one treated using orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT Group) and a control group with TMD (Group CTMD). Patient selection was based upon the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (RDC/TMD). All subjects submitted to a clinical examination with self-reporting of symptom severity, and to orofacial myofunctional and electromyographic evaluation at diagnosis and again, at the end of the study. Correlations were calculated using the Pearson test and inter- and intragroup comparisons were made (p < 0.05). In the diagnosis phase, subjects with TMD reported earache (65%), tinnitus (60%), ear fullness (90%), and 25% of the asymptomatic subjects reported tinnitus. The otologic symptoms were correlated with tenderness to palpation of the temporomandibular muscles and joints and with orofacial symptoms. Only the OMT group showed a reduction of otologic and orofacial symptoms, of tenderness to palpation and of the asymmetric index between muscles. OMT may help with muscle coordination and a remission of TMD symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto University of São Paulo, Dept. of Otorrinolaringologia, Oftalmologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, Av. Dos Bandeirantes - 3900 Ribeirão Preto CEP- 14049-900, Brazil. cfelicio@fmrp.usp.br
authors.forename: Cláudia Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: de Felício
authors.forename: Melissa de Oliveira
authors.initials: Mde O
authors.lastname: Melchior
authors.forename: Clãudia Lúcia Pimenta
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Marco Antonio M Rodrigues
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Da Silva
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D004433:Earache / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004576:Electromyography; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008406:Masseter Muscle / Q000503:physiopathology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D020247:Myofunctional Therapy; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010173:Palpation; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D013703:Temporal Muscle / Q000503:physiopathology; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome