Relationship Between Dental Occlusion Alteration and Tinnitus:

An Integrative Review

Abstract

Aim: This integrative literature review aimed to answer the question: “Is there a relationship between occlusal alteration and tinnitus in patients diagnosed with orthodontic disorders?” Literature Review: A comprehensive search was conducted in the Embase, LILACS, PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science databases, and gray literature. Inclusion criteria comprised primary studies, either prospective or retrospective, clinical trials, cohort and cross-sectional studies, published in Portuguese, English, Spanish, or French, with no restriction on publication date or participants’ sex. Exclusion criteria included case reports, abstracts, posters, review articles, pediatric populations, animal models, and studies that did not address the research question. The literature suggests that tinnitus may be associated with auditory and dental factors, such as malocclusion, which can negatively impact individuals’ physical and mental health. Results: Study selection was conducted by two independent reviewers, with a third reviewer resolving any disagreements. A total of 71 publications were identified, of which only two met the eligibility criteria and were included in the final synthesis. Discussion: The selected studies discussed the orofacial and masticatory musculature and their possible relationship with auditory symptoms such as tinnitus. Both presented hypotheses of an association, but without empirical data to support the connection. Conclusion: There is a lack of studies directly addressing the topic. Further research with robust methodological design is necessary to clarify the relationship between malocclusion and tinnitus.