ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:
This study aimed at describing, in a case series, the effect of ear acupuncture associated or not to education and home self-care techniques in the treatment of chronic temporomandibular disorders in women.
CASE REPORT:
Nine patients with chronic painful temporomandibular disorder, aged between 22 and 45 years of age (mean of 32.11 years) were evaluated with the clinical chart of temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain of the Occlusion II discipline, Universidade de Araraquara, with the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders and by a pain diary with visual analog scales delivered once a week in reference (first week) and after each treatment session (ear acupuncture and/or counseling). During the three weeks of treatment, patients were oriented to control temporomandibular disorders, being that six patients, in addition to self-care, have also received ear acupuncture in recommended points to treat temporomandibular disorders and associated symptoms (protocol: Shen-men, neurovegetative system, kidneys, temporomandibular disorders and anxiety triad). Ear acupuncture associated to education and home self-care has shown the best results in symptoms remission/improvement after 3 weeks of treatment as compared to the group receiving just self-care orientations.
CONCLUSION:
Ear acupuncture associated to education and home self-care techniques has shown better results to control pain of patients with temporomandibular disorder.
Keywords:
Acupuncture; Ear; Facial pain; Temporomandibular joint disorders; Therapeutics
