Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: AMANDA CARLA MATIAS BARROS DA SILVA

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : AMANDA CARLA MATIAS BARROS DA SILVA
DATE: 16/12/2025
TIME: 10:00
LOCAL: hibrido
TITLE:

Influence of the Type of Chronic Temporomandibular Disorder on Tinnitus, Orofacial and Cervical Disability, and Quality of Life: A
Cross-Sectional Study

 

 

 

 

KEY WORDS:

Somatosensory Tinnitus, Orofacial Pain, Symptom Assessment,
Observational Study.

 

PAGES: 79
BIG AREA: Ciências da Saúde
AREA: Fisioterapia e Terapia Ocupacional
SUMMARY:

Introduction: Chronic temporomandibular disorders (TMD) comprise a group of
conditions affecting the temporomandibular joint and masticatory muscles,
which may result in orofacial pain, mandibular functional limitation, and
headache, and are classified into different types. Associated with these
manifestations, otological symptoms may also occur, with tinnitus being the
most frequent. Somatosensory tinnitus (ST) is defined as the perception of
sound in the absence of an external acoustic stimulus and is often related to
musculoskeletal and neurosensory alterations. Evidence suggests that TMD
may influence tinnitus due to the interconnection between the somatosensory
and auditory systems, potentially leading to a negative impact on quality of life.
Objective: To investigate whether there are differences in tinnitus annoyance
and impact, orofacial and cervical pain and disability, and quality of life among
individuals with different types of TMD associated with tinnitus. Methods: This
cross-sectional study included individuals of both sexes, aged between 18 and
65 years, diagnosed with ST and TMD. Participants were divided into three
groups: myalgia TMD (MIA), arthralgia TMD (ART), and mixed TMD (MIS),
defined by the coexistence of more than one TMD subtype. TMD identification
was performed using the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders
(DC/TMD), while the influence of the somatosensory system on tinnitus origin
was determined using the Checklist of Diagnostic Criteria for Somatosensory
Tinnitus (CD/ST). Tinnitus loudness and annoyance, as well as the intensity of
cervical pain, orofacial pain, and headache, were measured using the Numeric
Rating Scale (NRS). Tinnitus impact was assessed by the Tinnitus Handicap
Inventory (THI), cervical disability by the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and
mandibular disability and orofacial pain by the Orofacial Pain and Disability
Inventory (OPDI). Quality of life was measured using the Brazilian short version

of the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-
BREF). Preliminary Results: A total of 159 individuals were evaluated, of whom

70 presented with associated TMD and ST and were included in the study: 11
in the arthralgia group, 17 in the myalgia group, and 42 in the mixed group. Of
the total sample, 71.5% were female, with a median age of 32.5 years (25–
40.2). No significant differences were observed among groups regarding
tinnitus annoyance in the previous 24 hours (p = 0.121) or the previous 7 days
(p = 0.734), nor in tinnitus severity in the previous 24 hours (p = 0.129) and the
previous 7 days (p = 0.741). Similarly, no significant differences were found in the THI total score (p = 0.942) or across its domains (p > 0.05). Regarding the
OPDI, the mixed TMD group showed significantly higher scores compared with
the arthralgia TMD group in the pain domain (p = 0.003) and with the myalgia
TMD group in the comorbidities domain (p = 0.022); the total score differed
significantly among subgroups (p = 0.008), with higher values observed in the
mixed TMD group. In the overall classification, a predominance of severe
disability was observed in all groups, particularly in the MIS group (76.9%),
although no statistically significant difference was detected between categories
(p = 0.340). For the NDI, statistically significant differences in cervical disability
were identified among groups, both in disability level classification (p = 0.004)
and in the total score (p < 0.001). Regarding cervical pain, intensity over the
previous 7 days differed among groups (p = 0.032), with higher intensity
reported in the mixed TMD group. Quality of life assessment revealed no
statistically significant differences among groups in the total score (p = 0.882)
or across domains. Final Considerations: The partial results of this study
suggest that TMD subtype did not significantly influence outcomes related to
somatosensory tinnitus. However, individuals with mixed TMD showed a higher
frequency of classification in the “severe” and “catastrophic” levels of tinnitus
impact. Participants with mixed TMD also exhibited higher levels of disability in
most OPDI domains. Although the overall OPDI classification did not differ
among TMD subtypes, individuals with mixed TMD showed a higher frequency
of moderate and severe disability, reinforcing the greater clinical impact
observed in this subgroup. Regarding cervical disability, differences were
observed both in NDI domains and total score among groups, and cervical pain
intensity in the previous seven days was higher in the mixed TMD group. Global
perceived quality of life was not influenced by TMD subtype. With the
continuation of this study, the findings are expected to support the development
of more precise clinical guidelines and contribute to improving diagnostic and
therapeutic approaches by health professionals in the management of patients
with these complex and multifactorial clinical conditions.

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - 4374835 - KARYNA MYRELLY OLIVEIRA BEZERRA DE FIGUEIREDO RIBEIRO
Externo ao Programa - 1466265 - GUSTAVO AUGUSTO SEABRA BARBOSA - UFRNExterno à Instituição - LUIS FELIPE TAVARES PREVELATO