Effects of acupuncture in the treatment of temporomandibular dysfunctions

Tempormandibular dysfunctions (TMDs) are the non-dental pains that most affect the orofacial region, which are multifactorial and difficult to treat. Acupuncture is a therapy that has been used with great success in the treatment of TMDs, since it acts locally in muscle relaxation and pain control, seeking the physical, mental and emotional balance of the patient. Objective: To carry out a review of the literature, evaluating the results obtained in the researches that relate acupuncture as a treatment for temporomandibular joint pain, be it joint or muscular pain. Methodology: Literature review based on Pubmed, Scielo, Google School and temporomandibular dysfunction and acupuncture books, published from 1995 to 2016. As search engines the key words TMD, pain, acupuncture were used in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Results: In this research 50 articles were found by database, however, the papers that focused on temporomandibulardysfunction as the main cause and acupuncture as a treatment option were selected. Of the total, only 31 articles were used for the literature review. Conclusion: Acupuncture has been shown to be efficient in controlling orofacial pain and temporomandibular disorders.