Acupuncture and its applications in dentistry

AFTER the previous column saying acupuncture is not magic but science, let me share an interesting scientific article that we have come across: “Acupuncture: An Alternative Therapy in Dentistry and Its Possible Applications.”

The article was published in December 2014 in the journal Medical Acupuncture and appears in the database of the United States National Library of Medicine in the US National Institutes of Health.

The lead author is Dr. Purnachandrarao N. Naik of the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Sibar Institute of Dental Sciences in Andhra Pradesh, India.

The article reviews related literature on acupuncture and its applications in dentistry using the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and PUBMED, a free search engine accessing primarily the database of references and abstracts on life sciences and biomedical topics. Ultimately, 40 articles had undergone full-text review.

The review of medical literature concludes that “research to date certainly offers valid applications of acupuncture in dentistry.”

“Acupuncture mainly acts by stimulating the nervous system, changing the way the nervous system processes pain signals and releasing natural painkillers, such as serotonin and endorphins in the nervous system,” Dr. Naik observes.

Acupuncture’s successful use for various dental conditions has been proven, Dr. Naik says, adding it is important for the dental clinicians to be familiar with the applications of acupuncture for dental disorders.

In dentistry, the ability of acupuncture has been proven for managing various chronic disorders in the mouth, jaws and the face or the orofacial part of the head. Over 95 percent of cases of orofacial pain is caused by toothache or dental abscess.

According to the literature review, acupuncture is effective and a sensible alternative or supplement to current dental practice, both as a pain killer and for addressing various dental disorders.

The review found that modern scientific researchers have revealed the following actions of acupuncture: regulating the body’s various normal functions; inducing analgesia, or the inability to feel pain; modulating the limbic system, the part of the brain that deals with emotions, memories and arousal; increasing microcirculation in the smallest blood vessels; and protecting the body from infections.

In 1979, according to the article, the World Health Organization endorsed the use of acupuncture to treat 43 symptoms, later extended to 64 conditions.

In our own Google search, we have seen that in 2003 the WHO included pain in dentistry, facial pain and postoperative pain as among the conditions for which acupuncture has been proven to be successful and effective.

The WHO also listed a number of conditions where acupuncture is effective, including high and low blood pressure; peptic ulcer; painful menstrual periods; morning sickness; sprains; reducing the risk of stroke; and dental pain.

The WHO suggests that acupuncture may help treat a number of infections, including some urinary tract infections and epidemic hemorrhagic fever.

The US Food and Drug Administration regulates acupuncture needles as medical devices, whose manufacture and labeling need to meet certain standards. The needles must be sterile, nontoxic and labeled for one use only by a licensed practitioner.

Given the efficacy of acupuncture and its acceptance by the WHO, a United Nations agency, and the health care profession as a complementary form of treatment, it is opportune that the University of Makati has opened this August a program on traditional Chinese medicine, including acupuncture./PN

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Dr. Joseph D. Lim is the former associate dean of the UE College of Dentistry, former dean of the College of Dentistry, National University, past president and honorary fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy, honorary fellow of the Japan College of Oral Implantologists, and honorary life member of the Thai Association of Dental Implantology. For questions on dental health, email jdlim2008@gmail.com or text 09178591515.