Acupuntura no tratamento da disfunção temporomandibular

Abstract

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) consist of frequent non-dental pains of the orofacial region. It is a difficult-to-treat condition of multifactorial origin. Acupuncture is a therapy that has been used in dental specialties very successfully. In the treatment of TMD, it acts both in muscle relaxation and in pain control, and systemically seeks the patient's physical, mental and emotional balance, thus reducing anxiety and improving the quality of life. The objective of this study was to evaluate acupuncture as a treatment for TMD. A total of 34 patients was selected in the extension project of the discipline Temporomandibular Disorders offered by the Faculty of Dentistry of the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (FAODO/UFMS). The patients were diagnosed with TMD of muscle origin according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC / TMD). They were randomly divided into two groups: Group 1 (n = 17), treated with occlusal plaque, massage, thermotherapy and self-care guidelines; and Group 2 (n = 17), treated with six acupuncture sessions lasting 30 minutes each. The pain was evaluated by the visual analogue scale with the aid of a pressure algometer to assess the muscular tension of the temporal and masseter muscles. The limitation of mouth opening was measured with the use of calipers. There was no difference in mouth openness, EVA scores or muscle tension threshold in relation to the type of treatment used, however, in both groups the parameters evaluated after six weeks of treatment improved. No statistical difference was seen between the values obtained after six weeks and at the end of treatment, after four months. Statistical results showed that acupuncture was as effective as the most commonly used conventional therapies.