Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders With a Stabilizing Occlusal Splint in Somatosensory Tinnitus

NCT ID: NCT07211711

Last Updated: 2025-10-08

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

63 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-08-10

Study Completion Date

2026-06-30

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

This clinical trial aims to investigate whether treatment of temporomandibular joint disorder with a stabilizing occlusal splint is justified to alleviate somatosensory tinnitus. The main questions we aim to answer are:

* Determine if treatment of temporomandibular disorder with a stabilizing occlusal splint improves somatosensory tinnitus.
* Identify which patient-related, tinnitus-related, and temporomandibular disorder-related factors contribute to the therapeutic effect.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

The clinical variables of somatosensory tinnitus (ZS) will be assessed by a researcher blinded to the treatment type, using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at time points T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5, with 30 days interval. The THI, validated and adapted to Portuguese, is the most frequently used questionnaire in clinical trials for tinnitus patients, quantifying the subjective impact of tinnitus on quality of life across three main domains: functional, emotional, and catastrophic. THI classifies tinnitus into five grades: (a) I - negligible (0-16); (b) II - mild (18-36); (c) III - moderate (38-56); (d) IV - severe (58-76); (e) V - catastrophic (78-100). Audiometry and psychoacoustic measures of tinnitus (pitch, loudness, minimum masking level) will be performed at T1 and T5 by an audiologist blind to the treatment group.

The clinical variables of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) will also be assessed by a researcher blinded to the treatment type, using the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) and VAS at the same time points. The DC/TMD is a validated tool, adapted to Portuguese, used in clinical trials that provides a systematic assessment, including a standardized clinical examination and questionnaires. This classification system, based on the biopsychosocial model of pain, includes a physical assessment through Axis I, using reliable and well-operationalized diagnostic criteria, and an assessment of the psychosocial status and pain-related disability through Axis II.

Both assessments will be conducted at T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Tinnitus TMJ Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD)

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Patients with temporomandibular joint disorder and somatosensory tinnitus using occlusal splint

They will undergo the use of a stabilizing occlusal splint and will be followed up for 4 months.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Stabilizing occlusal splint

Intervention Type DEVICE

Maxillary stabilizing occlusal splint, made of acrylic with 2mm thickness in the posterior region. Installed and evaluated monthly for 4 months.

Patients with temporomandibular joint disorder and somatosensory tinnitus using placebo splint

They will undergo the use of a placebo splint and will be followed up for 4 months.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

placebo splint

Intervention Type DEVICE

Maxillary placebo non-occlusal splint, installed and evaluated monthly for 4 months.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Stabilizing occlusal splint

Maxillary stabilizing occlusal splint, made of acrylic with 2mm thickness in the posterior region. Installed and evaluated monthly for 4 months.

Intervention Type DEVICE

placebo splint

Maxillary placebo non-occlusal splint, installed and evaluated monthly for 4 months.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Patients over 18 years old;
* Sufferers of somatosensory tinnitus and TMD for more than 6 months;
* Dentition in good health, with at least minimal occlusion up to the second premolars on both sides;
* Availability for at least 4 months of follow-up;
* Able to speak and read the Portuguese language.

Exclusion Criteria

Pregnant patients; Treatment for TMD in the last 3 months; Treatment for tinnitus in the last 3 months; Use of total or partial removable prostheses Presence of orofacial pain disorders not related to TMD; Medical contraindication to treatment; Reluctance to accept any designated treatment; Unable or unwilling to give informed consent; Language barrier or delay in neuropsychomotor development.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

University of Sao Paulo General Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Jeanne Oiticica

PhD

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

University of São Paulo Faculty of Medicine Clinics Hospital

São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

Brazil

Facility Contacts

Find local site contact details for specific facilities participating in the trial.

Gustavo G Machado, Msc

Role: primary

+55 11 26617574

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

67418823.4.0000.0068

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.