title: The efficacy of acupuncture and decompression splints in the treatment of temporomandibular joint pain-dysfunction syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of the present study was to evaluate the results of applying acupuncture or occlusal decompression splints in the treatment of patients diagnosed with the temporomandibular joint pain-dysfunction syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a randomized clinical trial including 20 patients to whom the mentioned treatments were applied. Results were evaluated through an analogue pain scale, measurements of mouth opening and jaw lateral deviation in millimetres, and assessment of sensitivity to pressure on different points: preauricular, masseter muscle, temporal muscle and trapezius. Parameters were evaluated before and 30 days after the treatment. For standardized pressure, we used a pressure algometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients treated with decompression splints showed reductions in subjective pain and pain upon pressure on temporal, masseter and trapezius muscles, as well as increased mouth opening after the treatment. Patients treated with acupuncture showed pain reduction in the short term and improvements in all of the evaluated para-meters (stronger pressure was required to produce pain; mouth opening was improved).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acupuncture was an effective complement and/or an acceptable alternative to decompression splints in the treatment of myofascial pain and temporomandibular joint pain-dysfunction syndrome.
authors.affiliation: University of Las Palmas, Grand Canary Island (Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria). mmvicenteb@gmail.com
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vicente-Barrero
authors.forename: Si-Lei
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Yu-Lu
authors.forename: Bingxin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Sacramento
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bocanegra-Pérez
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Durán-Moreno
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López-Márquez
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knezevic
authors.forename: José-María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Castellano-Navarro
authors.forename: José-María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Limiñana-Cañal
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013706:Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult