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Acupuncture for temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review
1Hospital of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University, #1 Hoegi-Dong, Dongdaemun-Gu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea. chosh@khu.ac.kr
Journal of Orofacial Pain
|April 20, 2010
Summary
Acupuncture effectively reduces temporomandibular disorders (TMD) symptoms, showing moderate evidence of benefit compared to placebo, occlusal splints, and physical therapy. Further research is needed for long-term effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Integrative Medicine
- Pain Management
- Neurology
Background:
- Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) encompass a range of conditions affecting the jaw joint and muscles.
- Symptomatic treatment of TMD often involves multimodal approaches.
- Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are crucial for evaluating treatment efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing acupuncture's effectiveness for temporomandibular disorders (TMD) symptom relief.
- To synthesize evidence on acupuncture's comparative effectiveness against various control interventions.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of electronic databases for RCTs on acupuncture for TMD.
- Methodological quality assessment of included studies using Cochrane Handbook criteria.
- Review of 19 reports involving diverse participant numbers across comparative trials.
Main Results:
- Moderate evidence supports acupuncture's positive effects beyond placebo.
- Acupuncture demonstrated comparable effects to occlusal splint therapy.
- Acupuncture was more effective than physical therapy, indomethacin plus vitamin B1, and wait-list controls for TMD symptoms.
- No serious adverse events were reported in the limited trials assessing safety.
Conclusions:
- Moderate evidence indicates acupuncture is an effective intervention for reducing TMD symptoms.
- High-quality RCTs with adequate sample sizes are necessary to establish long-term efficacy.
- Acupuncture represents a viable therapeutic option for managing TMD symptoms.
