Could Acupuncture Be Useful in the Treatment of Temporomandibular Dysfunction?

Abstract

In this study, the effects of acupuncture in comparison with flat occlusal plane appliance were evaluated in patient with myogenic temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD). The sample consisted of 40 women with TMD and unbalanced energy predominance of Yang Liver Ascension, selected using the Renying and Cunkou pulses, randomly divided into two groups: acupuncture and splint. The effect of treatments on the masseter and anterior temporal muscles was evaluated after 4 weeks of treatment, by means of electromyographic activity (root mean square) and pain pressure threshold. Pain intensity was measured using the visual analog scale, and range of mouth opening was evaluated using a millimeter ruler. All evaluations were performed at the beginning and end of the treatment. Visual analog scale score was reduced equally in the two groups (p < 0001), and the increase in range of mouth opening was significant in both groups. A significant difference was detected only in pain pressure threshold of the left masseter in the acupuncture group (p < 0.05). Only root mean square in the at rest position of the right temporal muscle diminished in the final stage of the splint group (p < 0.05). Both treatments reduced the pain intensity of myogenic TMD in the short term and may be considered strategies for control of chronic pain related to TMD.

Non-invasive therapies for management of temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review

“…All studies evaluated the outcomes at baseline and after the treatment protocol 61 , with number of sessions varying from 1 week to 1 year. Pain levels were assessed as the primary outcome in all studies using Visual Analogic Scale (VAS) in 29 (83%) studies 1,2,10,15,16,22,24,25,31,33,36,[45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][61][62][63][64] or an algometer to evaluate the pressure pain threshold in 5 (14%) studies 2,36,46,58,62 ; one study (3%) used the Verbal Pain Scale 59 . The results of an intragroup analysis demonstrated that 27 (77%) 5,10,20,22,24,25,27,31,33,36,44...…”

“…The results of an intragroup analysis demonstrated that 27 (77%) 5,10,20,22,24,25,27,31,33,36,44,45,46,47,50,[52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63] of the studies presented reduction in pain and 22 (62%) 2,5,10,15,20,24,25,31,36,[44][45][46][47][52][53][54]56,57,59,60,62,64 , improvement in function. Among them, LLLT (34%) 2,515,…”

“…Of all the included studies, 13 (37%) used OS 1,10,16,36,[46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54] , 12 (34%), OE/BE 1,5,16,25,27,31,47,48,[50][51][52]54 , 12 (34%), LLLT 2,5,15,20,24,44,55,[57][58][59][60] , 7 (20%), MT 5,25,27,47,52,54,61 , 4 (11%), acupuncture 33,36,46,62 , 3 (9%), NSAIDs 10,44,53 , 3 (9%), TENS 22,24,…”

“…Risk of bias is shown in Chart 2. A total of 29 (82%) studies presented low risk 1,2,5,10,15,16,20,24,25,27,31,33,36,[45][46][47][48]50,51,[54][55][56][57][58][59][61][62][63][64] and three (9%) presented high risk 44,49,61 . Other three (9%) studies showed an unclear risk of bias due to insufficient information in at least one domain 22,52,53 .…”

Management of temporomandibular joint disorders: A surgeon's perspective

“…Acupuncture, Botox injections, Chiropractic/Osteopath jaw manipulations and other treatments have been tried in TMD management but have yet to be accepted into mainstream practice due to lack of evidence in the effectiveness of these modalities …”