Acupuncture treatment for Temporomandibular Disorder

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a common disorder, which, if treated by conventional conservative therapy (splints, exercise, physiotherapy), is expected to be completely cured in about 60% of cases.

[quote:87d02fbee4]Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) includes a variety of conditions associated with pain and dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the masticatory muscles. An estimated 20% of the population is affected, with 10% to 20% of those seeking treatment. These disorders also are referred to as "temporomandibular dysfunction," "craniomandibular disorders," and "mandibular dysfunction."
The presenting symptoms of TMD are: (1) intermittent or persistent pain in the masticatory muscles or the TMJ, and less frequently in adjacent structures; (2) limitations or deviations of mandibular movement; and (3) TMJ sounds. A variety of other symptoms, such as tinnitus, abnormal swallowing, and hyoid bone tenderness, also may occur. Quality of life may be affected, with a negative effect on social function, emotional health, and energy level.

[size=8:87d02fbee4]Medlicott SM, Harris SR. A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Exercise, Manual Therapy, Electrotherapy, Relaxation Training, and Biofeedback in the Management of Temporomandibular Disorder. [i:87d02fbee4]Physical Therapy[/i:87d02fbee4] 2006; 86(7): 955-973.[/size:87d02fbee4][/quote:87d02fbee4]
Acupuncture is expected to be effective in TMD as it generally is in other musculoskeletal disorders. However, very little information could be found on the subject.

[quote:87d02fbee4]* [i:87d02fbee4]Dr. Leon Chaitow[/i:87d02fbee4], [i:87d02fbee4]D.O.[/i:87d02fbee4], [i:87d02fbee4]N.D.[/i:87d02fbee4] (1990) recommends needling LI 4, ST 7, GB 2 and auricular Mouth point for jaw pain.
* [i:87d02fbee4]Dr. Chen Decheng[/i:87d02fbee4] (2001), former professor of of the [i:87d02fbee4]Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion[/i:87d02fbee4] of the [i:87d02fbee4]China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine[/i:87d02fbee4], recommends treating TMD by needling Xiaguan (ST 7) with the reported cure rate of 75.8% (based on observation of 33 cases).
* [i:87d02fbee4]Dr. Tom Thayer[/i:87d02fbee4] (2006), Chairman of [i:87d02fbee4]British Dental Acupuncture Society[/i:87d02fbee4], recommends for TMD acupuncture at any combination of ST 5, ST 6, ST 7, ST 8 (mostly bilaterally) +/- BL 10, BL 11, GB 20, GB 21, SI 19, LR 3, LI 4 and ST 36. He, however, rather represents Western medical acupuncture than TCM.[/quote:87d02fbee4]
[b:87d02fbee4]What acupuncture treatment would you recommend for this condition?[/b:87d02fbee4]

Do you know any published researches of the effectiveness of acupuncture for its treatment?

Dear Sergiy,
I think the points listed in the material is commonly used in clinic for TMD.

The foreigners learned acupuncture from China or from Chinese, and I don't think they are much different from the TCM acupuncture.

But in China, every acupuncture practitioner would have more or less different needling techniques.

So, I think that's the difference.

D.K.