Tinnitus of TMJ origin: a preliminary report.

Twenty patients whose chief complaint was tinnitus were examined. They were not known to have temporomandibular disorders. They did not have pain or dysfunction. They were examined by physicians for ear disorders and the results were considered negative. Each of these patients had a complete history and clinical temporomandibular joint examination. The clinical examination included muscle and joint palpation and stethoscopic examination of the joint. This examination also included selected computerized mandibular scans and electromyographic studies of selected facial muscles. Each subject had eight views of transcranial lateral oblique x-rays taken. It was determined that 19 of these individuals had one or more clinical, electromyographic, and radiographic indications of a temporomandibular disorder. From this study, it appears that individuals who have tinnitus with no apparent otologic basis for this symptom should have a careful evaluation of the temporomandibular apparatus. A temporomandibular disorder may be one of the primary causes of this symptom.