A dental crown is a custom-made, tooth-shaped restoration that fully covers a damaged or weakened tooth above the gum line to restore its strength and appearance. Tinnitus is the perception of sound—such as ringing, buzzing, or hissing—when no external noise is present. While a direct link between a dental crown and tinnitus is rare, several indirect pathways connect the two. The connection almost always involves the complex network of muscles, nerves, and joints that govern the jaw and face. This article explores the mechanical, muscular, and material factors that can create this link following the placement of a dental crown.
The Direct Mechanical Link
The procedure to place a dental crown requires preparing the tooth structure using high-speed dental drills. The sound and vibration produced by these instruments can be intense. The bone structure of the jaw can transmit these vibrations directly to the sensitive inner ear, which may occasionally aggravate a pre-existing auditory sensitivity.
The nervous system provides another connection point through the trigeminal nerve, the major sensory nerve for the face and jaw. This nerve supplies the teeth and surrounding tissues and has neural connections with the auditory pathways in the brainstem. Sudden pressure changes or localized inflammation during the crown placement can irritate the trigeminal nerve. This irritation can create a form of neural “crosstalk” that the brain interprets as sound, leading to temporary tinnitus.
Somatic Tinnitus and Occlusal Changes
The most common link between dental work and tinnitus is somatic tinnitus, where the perceived sound is influenced by the sensory system rather than the auditory system. This phenomenon arises when an ill-fitting crown alters the patient’s bite, or occlusion, even slightly. This misalignment forces the jaw to function unnaturally, leading to chronic stress on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the surrounding masticatory muscles.
The TMJ is located immediately in front of the ear canal. The muscles that control jaw movement share complex neural pathways with the cochlear nucleus, the part of the brain that processes sound. Chronic muscle tension caused by the occlusal change can lead to hypertonia, or excessive tightness, in the jaw and neck muscles. This tension can be transmitted via shared neural fibers from the trigeminal ganglion to the central auditory system.
Somatic tinnitus is often modulated by jaw movements; a patient may notice a change in the ringing’s pitch or volume when clenching their teeth or moving their neck. The tension can also affect the tensor tympani, a small muscle in the middle ear innervated by the trigeminal nerve. Sustained contraction of the tensor tympani due to jaw muscle strain can pull on the eardrum and contribute to the perception of ear fullness or tinnitus.
Less Common Material-Related Factors
Beyond mechanical and muscular causes, two rare material-related factors are sometimes linked to crowns and tinnitus.
Allergic Reactions
The first is an allergic reaction to the crown material, most often to metals like nickel used in metal alloys for porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns. While true allergic reactions are uncommon, they can cause localized inflammation, redness, and a burning sensation in the gum tissue around the crown. This persistent inflammation may indirectly affect surrounding nerves and tissues, though a direct causal link to tinnitus is not frequently reported.
Intraoral Galvanism
A second, extremely rare factor is intraoral galvanism, sometimes called “battery mouth.” This occurs when dissimilar metals in the mouth interact with saliva to generate a small electric current. If a new metal crown is placed near an old metal filling, the difference in electrical potential can create a current. While modern dentistry minimizes this risk, these currents may irritate the trigeminal nerve or contribute to symptoms like a persistent metallic taste, which has been anecdotally linked to tinnitus.
What To Do If Tinnitus Appears After Crown Placement
If tinnitus appears shortly after the placement of a dental crown, the first step is to return to the dentist for an immediate evaluation of the crown’s fit. Since occlusal changes are the most likely culprit, the dentist must check the crown for any high spots interfering with the natural bite and make necessary adjustments. Correcting a minor bite discrepancy can often resolve the underlying muscular strain driving the somatic tinnitus.
It is also important to consult with a medical doctor or an audiologist to rule out primary auditory causes, such as hearing loss, infection, or other systemic issues. If a somatic link is strongly suspected, management focuses on reducing jaw and muscle tension. This may include using a custom-fitted night guard to prevent teeth clenching or grinding, along with jaw relaxation exercises and stress reduction strategies to alleviate strain.