AURICULOTERAPIA NO TRATAMENTO DE DORES POR DESORDENS TEMPOROMANDIBULARES: UMA REVISÃO

• DOI: 10.22533/at.ed.9472315081

• Palavras-chave: acupuntura auricular, Práticas Integrativas Complementares, Desordem temporamandibular, odontologia

• Keywords: Auricular acupuncture, Integrative Complementary Practices, Temporomandibular Disorder, Dentistry

• Abstract:

  Many dentists have chosen to use Integrative and Complementary Practices (ICPs) for the relief of painful symptoms caused by temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD), with auriculotherapy standing out. Auriculotherapy involves stimulating specific points on the ear to generate physiological effects that can aid in the treatment of various diseases. The objective of this study is to present clinical studies using auriculotherapy for the control of pain in TMD through an integrative review. A search was conducted in databases such as PubMed, Scielo, CAPES Journals, Google Scholar, LILACS, and MEDLINE using the following keywords: "temporomandibular" and "auriculotherapy or auricular acupuncture" and "pain." Several studies were found, and based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, 10 scientific articles were analyzed. It was observed in the literature that chronic pain resulting from TMD is the main dental problem in which auriculotherapy has been used as a treatment method. All articles identified the efficacy of the technique in pain control, although not all patients improved with auricular stimulation. The majority of studies used mustard seed stimulation, but other types of stimulation such as semi-permanent needles, electrical impulses, and low-level laser were also employed. There are various schools of auriculotherapy, with Traditional Chinese Medicine being the most commonly used in these studies. However, articles using neurophysiological auriculotherapy and the French school of Raphael Nogier, which employs electrical currents for patient diagnosis and selects appropriate points for electrical pulse stimulation, were also found. Based on the results, it can be concluded that auriculotherapy can be successfully employed in patients with TMD, and it should be combined with occlusal stabilization splints to enhance treatment outcomes. Additionally, this practice may also improve emotional conditions related to this pathology.