Prospective Longitudinal Study for the Evaluation of an Intra Auricular Device as a Treatment for Painful Temporo-Mandibular Disorders

Background: An innovative, non-invasive, and reversible Intra Auricular Device (IAD) has recently been introduced to treat temporomandibular muscle and joint disorders.Aim: To evaluate the effects of the IAD on pain, psychosocial domain and Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) of masticatory muscles in patients with TMD pain. Methods: Ten subjects with TMD pain and with pain intensity higher than 30 mm on a VAS scale were included in the study. Patients received the IAD and counselling. Assessments included questionnaires of the DC/TMD Axis II questionnaires (Characteristic Pain Index, Interference, Jaw Functional Limitation Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire 9, Patient Health Questionnaire 15, Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale, Oral Behavior Checklist and Oral Health Impact Profile-22, Axis I clinical examination and PPTs at baseline (T0), after one month (T1), three months (T2) and six months (T3) from the first use of the device. PPTs were measured at anterior temporalis muscles, masseter muscles and right thenar as a control site.The Shapiro-Wilk test was used for the normal distribution of data. The difference among the longitudinal timepoints for variable was analysed with ANOVA. Statistical significance was accepted at p < 0.05.