This article reviews the possible role and application of acupuncture in dentistry. The use of acupuncture in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a long history and for the past forty years, many studies have been conducted to understand the scientific basis behind its therapeutic effects in Western medicine. The possible application of acupuncture in the dental field like managing post-operative pain, orofacial pain, xerostomia, Bell's palsy and dental anxiety will be discussed in detail. The inherent challenges in conducting clinical trials in acupuncture using the evidence-based medicine model will also be covered. It is envisioned that acupuncture may play a promising role in complementing conventional treatment in certain dental conditions and more studies with improved methodology should be carried out to verify its application.
LimMKSadaranganiPChanHLHengJY. Complementary and alternative medicine use in multiracial Singapore. Complement Ther Med2005;13(1):16–24.
4.
YeoSHYeoCHYeoCLeeCHLimLFLeeTL. Perceptions of complementary and alternative medicine amongst medical students in Singapore. Acupunct Med2005;23(1):19–26.
5.
PageRCKornmanKS. The pathogenesis of human periodontitis: An introduction. Periodontol1997;(14):9–11.
6.
LiuGAkiraH. Basic principle of TCM. In: LiuGAkiraH, eds. Fundamentals of acupuncture and moxibustion. Tianjin, China: Tianjin Science and Technology Translation and Publishing Corporation1994.
7.
GunnCCMilbrandtW.E., The neurological mechanism of needle grasp in acupuncture. Am J Acupunct1977;(5):115–20.
8.
LangevinHMChurchillDLCipollaMJ. Mechanical signalling through connective tissue: A mechanism for the therapeutic effect of acupuncture. FASEB J2001;15(12):2275–82.
9.
MelzackRStillwellDMFoxEJ. Trigger points and acupuncture points for pain: Correlations and implications. Pain1977;3(1):3–23.
10.
MelzackRWallPD. Evolution of pain theory. Int Anesthesiol Clin1970;8(1): 3–34.
11.
StuxGPomenranzB. Acupuncture textbook and atlas. Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1987.
12.
ChengKJ. Neuroanatomical basis of acupuncture treatment for some common illness. Acupunct Med2009;27(2):61–4.
13.
LewithGTMachinD. On the evaluation of the clinical effects of acupuncture. Pain1983;16(2):111–27.
14.
ChngHSFordTR PittMcDonaldF. Effects of prilocaine local anaesthetic solutions on pulpal blood flow in maxillary canines. Endod Dent Traumatol1996;12(2):89–95.
15.
RostedPBundgaardM. Can acupuncture reduce the induction time of a local anaesthetic?-A pilot study. Acupunct Med2003;21(3):92–9.
16.
ErnstEPittlerM. The effectiveness of acupuncture in treating acute dental pain: A systematic review. Br Dent J19989;184(9):443–7.
17.
HuangJQSridharSHuntRH. Role of helicobacter pyloris infection and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in peptic ulcer disease: A metaanalysis. Lancet20025;359(9300):14–22.
18.
LaoLXBermanSHamiltonGRLangenberdPBermanB. Evaluation of acupuncture for pain control after oral surgery. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg1999;125(5):567–72.
19.
GriffithsRH. Report of the president's conference on examination, diagnosis and management of temporomandibular disorders. J Am Dent Assoc1983;106(1):75–7.
20.
TrueloveELSommersEELeRescheLDworkinSFVon KorffM. Clinical diagnostic criteria for TMD: New classification permits multiple diagnoses. J Am Dent Assoc1992;123(4):47–54.
21.
ChoSHWhangWW. Acupuncture for temporomandibular disorders: A systematic review. J Orofac Pain. 2010 Spring;24(2):152–62.
SreebnyLMBanoczyJBaumBJ. Saliva: Its role in health and disease. Int Dent J1992;42(4Suppl 2):287–304.
24.
DawidsonIBlomMLundebergTAngmar-ManssonB. The influence of acupuncture on salivary flow rates in healthy subjects. J Oral Rehabil1997;24(3):204–8.
25.
BlomMLundebergT. Long term follow-up of patients treated with acupuncture for xerostomia and the influence of additional treatment. Oral Dis2000;6(1):15–24.
26.
JohnstonePAPengYPMayBCInouyeWSNiemtzowRC. Acupuncture for pilocarpine-resistant xerostomia following radiotherapy for head and neck malignancies. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys2001;50(2):353–7.
27.
ThomsonWMChalmersJMSpencerAJWilliamSM. The xerostomia inventory: A multi-item approach to measuring dry mouth. Community Dent Health1999;16(1):12–7.
28.
BlomMKoppSLundebergT. Prognostic value of the pilocarpine test to identify patients who may obtain long-term relief from xerostomia by acupuncture treatment. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg1999;125(5):561–6.
29.
AnderssonSLundebergT. Acupuncture-from empiricism to science: Functional background to acupuncture effects in pain and disease. Med Hypothesis1995;45(3):271–81.
30.
DengGHouBLHolodnyAICassilethBR. Functional magnetic resonance imaging change and saliva production associated with acupuncture at LI-2 acupuncture point: A randomised controlled study. BMC Complement & Alt Med2008;7:8:37.
31.
Turk-BoruUKocerABilgeC. The efficacy of steroids in idiopathic facial nerve paralysis: An open, randomized, prospective controlled study. Kulak Burun Bogaz Ihtis Derg2005;14(3–4):62–6.
32.
AllenDDunnL. Aciclovir or valaciclovir for Bell's palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis). Cochrane Database Syst Rev2004;(3):CD001869.
33.
LiangFLiYYuSLiCHuLZhouD. A multi-centred randomized control study on clinical acupuncture treatment of Bell's palsy. J Tradit Chin Med2006;26(1):3–7.
34.
LiYLiangFRYuSGLiCDHuLXZhouD. Efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion in treating Bell's palsy: A multicenter randomised controlled trial in China. Chin Med J 2004 (Engl)2004;117(10):1502–6.
35.
HeLZhouDWuBLiNZhouMK. Acupuncture for Bell's palsy (Review). Cochrane Database Syst Rev2004;(1):CD002914.
36.
McGoldrickPde JonghADurhamR. Psychotherapy for dental anxiety. Cochrane Database Syst Rev2001;(2):CD003070.
37.
WangSMKainZN. Auricular acupuncture: A potential treatment for anxiety. Anesth Analg2001;92(2):548–53.
38.
WangSMPeloquinCKainZN. The use of auricular acupuncture to reduce preoperative anxiety. Anesth Analg2001;93(5):1178–80.
39.
KarstMWinterhalterMMunteSFranckiBHondronikosAEckardtA. Auricular acupuncture for dental anxiety: A randomised controlled trial. Anesth Analg2007;104(2):295–300.
RostedPBundgaardMFiskeJPedersenAML. The use of acupuncture in controlling the gag reflex in patients requiring an upper alginate impression: An audit. Brit Dent J2006;9;201(11):721–5.
42.
FiskeJDickinsonC. The role of acupuncture in controlling the gagging reflex using a review of ten cases. Brit Dent J2001;9;190(11):611–3.
43.
SomriMVaidaSJSaboE. Acupuncture versus odansetron in the preventing of postoperative vomiting. Anaesthesia2001;56(10):927–32.
MadsenMVGotzschePCHrobjartssonA. Acupuncture treatment for pain: Systematic review of randomised clinical trials with acupuncture, placebo acupuncture, and no acupuncture groups. BMJ200927;338:a3115.
46.
YuanJPurepongNKerrDPParkJBradburyIMcDonoughS. Effectiveness of acupuncture for low back pain. Spine2008;133(23):E887–900.
47.
WhiteARFilshieJCummingsTM. Clinical trials of acupuncture: Consensus recommendations for optimal treatment, sham controls and blinding. Complement Ther Med2001;9(4):237–45.
48.
LinnYC. Evidence-based medicine for Traditional Chinese Medicine: Exploring the evidence from a Western Medicine perspective. Proc Singapore Healtc2011;20(1):12–9.
49.
LangevinHMWaynePMMacphersonHSchnyerRMilleyRMNapadowV, Paradoxes in acupuncture research: Strategies for moving forward. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med2011;(2011):180805.
