Page 4 - GP Spring 2025

How big of a problem is tinnitus? It’s financial drain on the US healthcare and
workforce systems is approaching $1 billion per year.
Case Description: 2 , 4 5
The Relationship Between Dental Care and Tinnitus:
2
A Case Report
In 2022, a 36-year-old male patient who was one year into his sequential clear aligner
4
therapy mentioned that his temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD) and tinnitus
Author: Elliot Davis, DDS
How big of a problem is tinnitus? It’s financial drain on the US healthcare and
were no longer bothering him. While I was aware of his TMD, I was unaware of his
workforce systems is approaching $1 billion per year.
tinnitus.
Abstract: At his next visit, he completed two Tinnitus ,4 5 and magnitude of occlusion-triggered tinni-
Every day, millions struggle with tinnitus. Functional Index (TFI) surveys to measure tus episodes (Figures #1a, 2a).
The possibility that a connection exists be- how it was impacting his life. One docu-
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tween dentistry and tinnitus has recently At his next visit, he completed two Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) surveys to measure
mented how he felt now, the other how he
been identified. how it was impacting his life. One documented how he felt now, the other how he felt
felt a year earlier. Tinnitus was no longer
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a year earlier. Tinnitus was no longer impeding his ability to fall asleep or remain
This report highlights a patient who, while impeding his ability to fall asleep or remain
asleep. Tinnitus was no longer dulling his
Case Description:
undergoing aligner therapy, obtained signif- ability to remain alert during meetings or 4
icant relief from tinnitus which has lasted asleep. Tinnitus was no longer dulling his ability to remain alert during meetings or
straining his ability to concentrate through-
In 2022, a 36-year-old male patient who was one year into his sequential clear aligner
4
for almost a decade. straining his ability to concentrate throughout long conversations.
out long conversations.
therapy mentioned that his temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD) and tinnitus
Tinnitus-focused aligner therapy is de- When the excitement of his progress was
signed to improve the patient’s periodontal When the excitement of his progress was shared with another patient, a 58-year-old
were no longer bothering him. While I was aware of his TMD, I was unaware of his
Figure #2. Anterior open, start.
shared with another patient, a 58-year-old
health, TMJ health, occlusion health, sleep woman volunteered that several years earlier, her tinnitus greatly dissipated and no
tinnitus.
woman volunteered that several years ear-
health and tinnitus health. lier, her tinnitus greatly dissipated and no Figure #2 Figure #2a
longer bothers her. She remembered the
At his next visit, he completed two Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) surveys to measure
Dentistry seems to have developed the first longer bothers her. She remembered the event when she first realized her tinnitus had
Figure #2: Anterior open, start. Figure #2a: Anterior open, 4 years into therapy.
event when she first realized her tinnitus
definitive remedy for tinnitus. resolved. It had diminished sometime between the first and second years of her
how it was impacting his life. One documented how he felt now, the other how he felt
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had resolved. It had diminished sometime
Key Words. Tinnitus, dentistry, aligners, or- aligner therapy (invisalign®, Align Technology, Inc.).
a year earlier. Tinnitus was no longer impeding his ability to fall asleep or remain
between the first and second years of her
thodontics. aligner therapy (Invisalign , Align Tech-
®
asleep. Tinnitus was no longer dulling his ability to remain alert during meetings or
No tooth was modified with an occlusal adjustment or interproximal reduction (IPR).
4

For decades starting as a child, she suQered with tinnitus for prolonged periods every
nology, Inc.).
Background:
straining his ability to concentrate throughout long conversations.
Some teeth had buccal attachments placed. A direct composite no-prep restoration
For decades starting as a child, she suffered
In 2022, a 58-year-old female shared that day. Her recovery is believed to be the longest of any patient who has received

Figure #2
Figure #2a
her multi-decade battle with adverse effects with tinnitus for prolonged periods every Figure #2a. Anterior open, 4 years into therapy.
was placed on the retained primary tooth #D whose root completely resorbed
When the excitement of his progress was shared with another patient, a 58-year-old
tinnitus-focused aligner care, having celebrated nine years of near-complete freedom
Figure #2a
Figure #2

from tinnitus greatly diminished more than day. Her recovery is believed to be the lon- Figure #2: Anterior open, start. Figure #2a: Anterior open, 4 years into therapy.
No tooth was modified with an occlusal ad-
decades earlier (Figures #3, 3a). It was the only tooth not repositioned.
woman volunteered that several years earlier, her tinnitus greatly dissipated and no
gest of any patient who has received tinni-
a year (2014-2015) into her aligner therapy from those aggravating noises.
justment or interproximal reduction (IPR).
longer bothers her. She remembered the event when she first realized her tinnitus had
(2013-2018). She was the second patient, tus-focused aligner care, having celebrated Some teeth had buccal attachments placed.
nine years of near-complete freedom from
the total is now six, who have updated their Figure #2: Anterior open, start. Figure #2a: Anterior open, 4 years into therapy.
No tooth was modified with an occlusal adjustment or interproximal reduction (IPR).
A direct composite no-prep restoration was
resolved. It had diminished sometime between the first and second years of her
medical status because they no longer suf- those aggravating noises. placed on the retained primary tooth #D
Some teeth had buccal attachments placed. A direct composite no-prep restoration
aligner therapy (invisalign®, Align Technology, Inc.).
fered with tinnitus. whose root completely resorbed decades
was placed on the retained primary tooth #D whose root completely resorbed
earlier (Figures #3, 3a). It was the only

What is Tinnitus? No tooth was modified with an occlusal adjustment or interproximal reduction (IPR).
decades earlier (Figures #3, 3a). It was the only tooth not repositioned.
For decades starting as a child, she suQered with tinnitus for prolonged periods every
tooth not repositioned.
Tinnitus is a private auditory noise that can Some teeth had buccal attachments placed. A direct composite no-prep restoration
day. Her recovery is belie
manifest as buzzing, hissing or other sound ved to be the longest of any patient who has received
Figure #2a

Figure #2

in one or both ears that only that person will was placed on the retained primary tooth #D whose root completely resorbed
tinnitus-focused aligner care, having celebrated nine years of near-complete freedom
hear. Sometimes described as a ringing in Figure #2: Anterior open, start. Figure #2a: Anterior open, 4 years into therapy.
1
from those aggravating noises.
the ears, there are a number of different ver- decades earlier (Figures #3, 3a). It was the only tooth not repositioned.
sions and causes. Tinnitus is not a disease, it
No tooth was modified with an occlusal adjustment or interproximal reduction (IPR).
is a symptom associated with 200 diseases Figure 1. Anterior view, start.
Figure 1

Figure 1a
and syndromes. It ranges from being a mod- Some teeth had buccal attachments placed. A direct composite no-prep restoration
Figure #3

est irritation to a debilitating, life-hindering was placed on the retained primary tooth #D whose root completely resorbed Figure #3a
condition that causes severe annoyance and
decades earlier (Figures #3, 3a). It was the only tooth not repositioned.
Figure #3. Right buccal anterior, start.
frustration. 2,3 Figure #1: Anterior view, start. Figure #1a: Anterior view, 4 years into therapy.

Figure #3

Figure #3a

Figure #3: Right buccal anterior, start. Figure #3a: Right buccal anterior, 4 years into therapy.
How big of a problem is tinnitus? It’s finan-
cial drain on the US healthcare and workforce Figure #3: Right buccal anterior, start. Figure #3a: Right buccal anterior, 4 years into therapy.
systems is approaching $1 billion per year. Larger than average buccal and distal translations, intrusions and extrusions of teeth
4,5
Figure 1a. Anterior view, 4 years into therapy.
Case Description: 4 Stockdale, D., McFerran, D., Brazier, P. et al. An economic evaluation of the healthcare cost of tinnitus

facilitated the expansion of her mandibular arch (Figures #4, 4a). The distance
Larger than average buccal and distal translations, intrusions and extrusions of teeth

Figure 1a
Figure 1
In 2022, a 36-year-old male patient who management in the UK. BMC Health Serv Res 17, 577 (2017).
between lingual cusps of the mandibular right and left premolars was increased by
was one year into his sequential clear align- Teeth in her undulating occlusion were facilitated the expansion of her mandibular arch (Figures #4, 4a). The distance
moved to healthier positions. Residual sen-
Figure #1: Anterior view, start.

Figure #1a: Anterior view, 4 years into therapy.
Figure #3a
Figure #3

er therapy mentioned that his temporoman- sations from unbalanced and excessive oc- between lingual cusps of the mandibular right and left premolars was increased by

about a centimeter.

about a centimeter.
dibular joint dysfunction (TMD) and tinni- 5 Daoud, E., Caimino, C., Akeroyd, M.A. et al. The Utility of Economic Measures to Quantify the Burden of Tinnitus in
tus were no longer bothering him. While I clusal forces that were negatively impacting Figure #3a. Right buccal anterior, 4 years
AQected Individuals: A Scoping Review. PharmacoEconomics Open 6, 21–32 (2022).

Figure #3

Figure #3a
her tinnitus became muted (Figures #1, 2).

into therapy.
was aware of his TMD, I was unaware of Figure #3: Right buccal anterior, start. Figure #3a: Right buccal anterior, 4 years into therapy.
his tinnitus. Those improvements reduced the number
6 Figure #3: Right buccal anterior, start. Figure #3a: Right buccal anterior, 4 years into therapy.
https://www.ncrar.research.va.gov/Documents/TFI.pdf
4 Stockdale, D., McFerran, D., Brazier, P. et al. An economic evaluation of the healthcare cost of tinnitus
www.nysagd.org l Spring 2025 l GP 4
Larger than average buccal and distal translations, intrusions and extrusions of teeth
management in the UK. BMC Health Serv Res 17, 577 (2017). 2
Larger than average buccal and distal translations, intrusions and extrusions of teeth
facilitated the expansion of her mandibular arch (Figures #4, 4a). The distance
facilitated the expansion of her mandibular arch (Figures #4, 4a). The distance
5 Daoud, E., Caimino, C., Akeroyd, M.A. et al. The Utility of Economic Measures to Quantify the Burden of Tinnitus in
between lingual cusps of the mandibular right and left premolars was increased by
between lingual cusps of the mandibular right and left premolars was increased by
AQected Individuals: A Scoping Review. PharmacoEconomics Open 6, 21–32 (2022).
about a centimeter.
about a centimeter.
6 https://www.ncrar.research.va.gov/Documents/TFI.pdf

2
Figure #4 Figure #4a

Figure #4: Mandibular arch, start. Figure #4a: Mandibular arch, 4 years into therapy.
Figure #4 4 Figure #4a
Figure #4: Mandibular arch, start. Figure #4a: Mandibular arch, 4 years into therapy.

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Figure #4 Figure #4a
Figure #4: Mandibular arch, start. Figure #4a: Mandibular arch, 4 years into therapy.

4
Figure #4 Figure #4a
Figure #4: Mandibular arch, start. Figure #4a: Mandibular arch, 4 years into therapy.
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