Acupuncture for myofascial pain mitigation in temporomandibular disorder

Laser and needle acupuncture, as well as auriculotherapy, offer effective short-term relief for myofascial pain in temporomandibular disorder.

To investigate whether acupuncture is effective for alleviating myofascial pain in temporomandibular disorder (TMD).

Scopus, PubMed, Embase, and Science Direct were explored for conducting a search and finding randomized clinical trials evaluating acupuncture for myofascial TMD. Inclusion criteria were broad, covering all studies without time or language restrictions.

Out of 286 articles found, 251 were screened, leading to 20 full-text reviews and 10 studies being included in the review. These studies used puncture and laser to evaluate acupuncture and auriculotherapy, with an occlusal device for the treatment of myofascial TMD. When comparing acupuncture with placebo acupuncture, acupuncture effectively provided immediate relief for subjective pain and tenderness in orofacial structures.

Laser and needle puncture acupuncture and auriculotherapy showed effective short-term subjective pain relief compared to placebo acupuncture. But, there is no standardized therapeutic protocol, and results improve when combined with occlusal devices. Future research is needed to establish comprehensive clinical guidelines and address gaps in current literature.