Treatment of Masticatory Muscle Pain with Acupuncture: Is It Necessary to Associate with Occlusal Splints?

Background: Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are treated by different modalities including splints, physiotherapy, and acupuncture. Although all of these offer evidencebased benefits to the patients, avoiding overtreatment is of paramount importance. Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of muscle pain treatment with acupuncture combined with or without occlusal splints. Methods: Recruited patients were allocated to G1 (acupuncture) and G2 (acupuncture and occlusal splint) groups and treated in four consecutive weekly sessions (P1, P2, P3, and P4). The reported pain (RP) and the pressure pain threshold (PPT) of the masseter and temporalis muscles were assessed before and after each session. Results: RP decreased after each session in G1, except at P4. In G2, the RP decreased only after the first session, and the PPT did not vary. Conclusion: The assessed treatments did not influence the PPT levels of the masseter and anterior temporalis muscles in patients with temporomandibular disorders. Our findings suggest that occlusal splints may not be mandatory along with the acupuncture treatment.

Effect of Acupuncture on Post-implant Paresthesia.

Paresthesia is defined as an alteration in local sensibility, associated with numbness, tingling, or unpleasant sensations caused by nerve lesions or irritation. It can be temporary or permanent. The treatment protocol for facial paresthesia is primarily based on the use of drugs and implant removal, which may not be completely effective or may require other risk exposure when there is no spontaneous regression. However, other therapeutic modalities such as acupuncture can be used. The aim of this study is to report a case of a patient with paresthesia of the inferior alveolar nerve and pain caused by an implant surgery performed 2 years earlier. The patient received acupuncture treatment during 4 months of weekly sessions. Six points were used: Large Intestine (LI4), Large Intestine (LI11), Stomach (ST36), Liver (LR3), Extra Head and Neck (E-HN-18), and Stomach (ST5). The visual analog scale was used before and after each session for the analysis of paresthesia and pain, together with assessment of the paresthesia by delimitation of the desensitized region of the skin and presented discomfort. Pain remission and reduction in the size of the paresthesia area occurred after four sessions.

Sinais e sintomas na Síndrome de Costen associada a desordens temporomandibulares: relato de caso clínico / Signs and symptoms in Costen’s Syndrome in association with TMD: report of clinic case

Definida como um conjunto de sinais e sintomas auditivos em pacientes portadores de DTM, a Síndrome de Costen é caracterizada por sensação de plenitude auricular, hipoacusia, zumbido, otalgia e vertigem com nistagmo. Herpes, glossodinia, neuralgia glossofaringeal e trismo também podem estar associados. A Síndrome de Costen parece ter predileção pelo sexo feminino e na quarta década de vida. O acompanhamento multiprofissional desses pacientes é imperativo no seu reconhecimento e no estabelecimento de terapêutica eficaz. Relatou-se caso clínico de paciente com Síndrome de Costen cujo tratamento consistiu na orientação sobre a etiologia da desordem e sessões semanais de acupuntura. As características clínicas que levaram ao diagnóstico e plano de tratamento, bem como a eficácia da acupuntura como terapêutica de suporte também foram discutidas

Costen’s syndrome is defined as a set of auditory signs and symptoms in patients with TMD. It is characterized by ear fullness, hearing loss, tinnitus, ear pain and vertigo with nystagmus.It has predilection for females and fourth decade of life. The multidisciplinary monitoring of these patients is imperative in its recognition and the establishment of effective therapy. In this paper we report a case of Costen’s Syndrome patient whose treatment consisted of advice on the etiology of the disorder and weekly sessions of acupuncture. The clinical features that led to the diagnosis and treatment plan, and the effectiveness of acupuncture as supportive therapy were also discussed