title: The use of acupuncture in dentistry.
abstract: Acupuncture is an ancient technique that has regained popularity in the UK over the last 20 years or so. This paper gives an overview in the concepts of acupuncture, both traditional and western, and indicates some of the appropriate uses for the technique in dental practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acupuncture has an important role to play in improving the quality of care that can be delivered for dental patients, particularly around the management of the gag reflex, and treatment of temporomandibular disorders (TMD).
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Dentistry, Central Cheshire PCT, Ashfields Primary Care Centre, Sandbach, Cheshire, UK.
authors.forename: Mark Lewis Tom
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Thayer
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control; D003729:Dental Care / Q000379:methods*; D005683:Gagging / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D016740:Meridians; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000628:therapy*