Investigation of the relationship between tinnitus and temporomandibular disorders

Globally, tinnitus affects between 14 and 32% of the population, occurring at any age of both sexes and increasing with age. The most significant otologic symptoms such as ear pain, tinnitus, dizziness, and hearing loss in clinical practice are often associated with disorders of the nearby temporomandibular joint. Dental practice often has abnormalities of the temporomandibular joint, with an incidence of 18–27% in the population. These disorders may be associated with trauma, injury or dislocation in the disc of the temporomandibular joint, excessive strain on the jaw muscles (e.g., bruxism), arthritis or malocclusion. Symptoms include pain in the jaw and/or face, difficulty opening the jaw and chewing, and sounds when opening the mouth (for example, when talking or chewing). The incidence of tinnitus in subjects with temporomandibular disorders is up to 60%. This report traces the link between tinnitus and temporomandibular disorders

Investigation of voice characteristics and their modification in dental prosthetics

Each person's voice is unique. Voice quality is characterized by intelligibility of speech (correlation between voice pitch, volume, timbre and speech speed). Changes in the oral cavity due to tooth loss and resorption of processus alveolaris maxillae or processus alveolaris mandibulae can cause defects in the patient's voice and speech. When using incorrect or functionally low-quality dentures, other changes can be observed, such as skipping, replacing, distorting, adding sounds, as well as nasal speaking. Restrictions or changes in the normal movement of the jaws may interfere with the transmission of acoustic energy through the oral cavity, thereby affecting both the voice characteristics and capabilities, and the balance of the oral resonance. Phonetic adaptation of prosthetic patients depends on the choice and placement of artificial teeth, on the thickness, size and placement of the prosthetic base, optimal tongue space, individual adaptive ability, and the patient's ability to recognize the sound. This report presents the possibilities for maximum restoration of voice characteristics in effective collaboration between the dental team and specialists in otolaryngology and speech therapy