Meniere’s disease may be caused by common intraosseous dental pathology – Diagnosis using the comparative compression sign

SummaryMeniere’s disease has been ascribed to a disturbance of the vestibular apparatus or its connections within the Central Nervous System. Several hypotheses have been advanced regarding its aetiopathogenesis, but treatments based on these hypotheses have often not produced the desired results. Two cases are described where common intraosseous pathology within the lower half of the functional face, i.e. within the mandible and maxillae, was shown to be the cause of Meniere’s disease. Together, these cases contributed to the chance discovery of the comparative compression sign which, when able to be elicited, may be considered pathognomonic for a dental origin of the condition. It is suggested that, in addition to other hypothesized causes involving the vestibular apparatus and the CNS, Meniere’s disease and vertigo may also be caused by common, readily-identifiable intraosseous dental pathology. These unexpected findings open up a new field for future research.