Presence of tinnitus and tinnitus-related hearing loss in temporomandibular disorders.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the presence of tinnitus and tinnitus-related hearing loss in individuals with temporomandibular joint disorders. METHODS: In the study, 288 patients with temporomandibular joint complaints and 33 patients with both temporomandibular and tinnitus complaints were evaluated. The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory was used in the evaluation of tinnitus. Pure tone audiometry test was used to evaluate the presence and degree of hearing loss. The Student's t-test and Independent Sample t-test were applied to compare between groups. RESULTS: The incidence of tinnitus was found to be 11.46% among patients with temporomandibular disorders. Tinnitus and tinnitus severity levels were found to have significant differences in patients with temporomandibular disorders. No significant relationships were found between right and left ear pure tone audiometry test results in patients. CONCLUSION: There is a relationship between aural symptoms, tinnitus, and temporomandibular disorders. Patients with temporomandibular disorders should be evaluated for otological symptoms.

The Impact of COVID-19 Vaccination on Anxiety Levels of Turkish Dental Professionals and Their Attitude in Clinical Care: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: The current study aimed to assess the anxiety and fear levels and the attitude towards clinical care, such as the use of personal protective equipment and number of patients examined, before and after COVID-19 vaccination among Turkish dental professionals. METHODS: A questionnaire including socio-demographical characteristics and clinical data regarding the number of patients, the use of personal protective equipment, vaccine confidence interval, positive or negative COVID-19 diagnosis, and fear and anxiety levels were examined. RESULTS: A total of 475 dentists (196 men and 279 women) participated. Overall, the vaccination had a positive effect on the decrease of fear and anxiety levels of dental professionals. It was observed that the number of interventional procedures significantly increased after vaccination. Besides that, the amount of personal protective equipment used in patients, especially after the vaccination, has decreased. CONCLUSION: Despite the positive effects of vaccination on the anxiety levels of dental professionals, protective measurements should further be the main concern, regardless of the vaccination status of both the dental professional and the patient.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of masseter muscle thickness in patients with disk displacement with reduction.

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to ultrasonographically assess the masseter muscle thicknesses of individuals with disk displacement with reduction. METHODS: The thickness of the masseter muscle in 100 patients (28 male, 72 female; average age 34 years) who presented with one-sided temporomandibular joint pain and a clicking sound and were diagnosed with disk displacement with reduction was measured in relaxation and at maximum contraction using ultrasonography. RESULTS: In the contracted position, the difference in the masseter muscle thickness between the healthy side and the side with disk displacement with reduction was statistically significant (p < 0.05). However, no statistically significant difference was found between the two sides in the relaxed position. CONCLUSIONS: Obvious ultrasonographic changes of the masseter muscle were found in patients with temporomandibular disk displacement with reduction, and these changes might be related to unilateral chewing. Individuals with anterior disc displacement probably chew unilaterally because of pain and clicking.

Comparison of the effects of diclofenac potassium and tenoxicam on postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus following third molar surgery

Background/aim: This study aimed to compare two nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents in relation to pain, swelling, and trismus following impacted third molar surgery. Materials and methods: The study was a randomized and a double-blinded study and included 50 healthy individuals. After the operation, patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups in which diclofenac potassium and tenoxicam were used. Impacted third molars were surgically extracted with local anesthesia. Pain was assessed postoperatively by visual analog scale at the 2nd, 6th, 8th, 12th, 24th, and 48th hours and on the 3rd, 5th, and 7th days. Swelling was evaluated using the method of Üstün et al. and trismus was measured with calipers on the postoperative 3rd and 7th days. Results: There was statistically significant difference between the groups in VAS levels at the 2nd and 6th hours; however, VAS levels of the tenoxicam group were significantly lower as compared to diclofenac potassium at the 8th, 12th, 24th, and 48th hours and on the 3rd, 5th, and 7th days (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). No difference was noted regarding trismus and swelling between the groups. Conclusion: Diclofenac potassium and tenoxicam are similarly effective for reduction of swelling and trismus following the extraction of mandibular third molars; however, tenoxicam surpasses diclofenac potassium for controlling pain.

Cavernous lymphangioma of the tongue in an adult: a case report.

Lymphangioma is a benign hamartomatous lesion caused by congenital malformation of the lymphatic system. This benign tumor is detected most commonly at birth or in early childhood but rarely in adults. On clinical examination, most lymphangiomas contain clear lymph fluid, but some may present as transparent vesicles containing red blood cells due to hemorrhage. In addition, lymphangioma may occur in association with hemangioma. This tumor occurs most commonly in the head and neck area, but rarely in the oral cavity. The dorsum of the tongue is the most common location in the mouth, followed by the lips, buccal mucosa, soft palate, and floor of the mouth. There are various treatment approaches for lymphangioma, but surgical excision is the preferred method. We present a case of a 26-year-old man with lymphangioma on the anterior dorsal part of the tongue, not associated with any dysfunction in mastication or speech disorders.