• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.214-237
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• 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture and electroacupuncture for temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). We searched 11 databases to find randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) published between January 2018 and January 2023 that used acupuncture and electroacupuncture to treat patients with TMD. We performed a meta-analysis of 18 RCTs involving 1,109 patients. Nine studies reported that the treatment and control groups showed improvement in the evaluation index post-treatment. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the treatment groups receiving acupuncture combined with manual therapy had significantly improved visual analog scale score and dysfunction index than the control groups receiving manual therapy. Moreover, the treatment groups receiving acupuncture combined with Western medicine had statistically improved maximum mouth opening than the control groups using Western medicine. In conclusion, acupuncture and electroacupuncture have clinical effects on TMD patients. Given that 11 studies were obtained from the Chinese database, a regional bias would be considered. Furthermore, the included studies had high a risk of bias in terms of randomization, concealment, and blinding. Further studies are required to correct these limitations.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.29-34
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• 2024

Acute malocclusion can occur in conditions related to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. This report presents two cases of acute malocclusion related to posterior disc displacement according to complete disc tearing. A 65-year-old male and an 88-yearold female presented with TMJ pain and occlusal discrepancies. Clinical examination, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed complete disc tearing and posterior displacement of a partial disc fragment. Dental cast analysis revealed a slight anterior and lateral deviation of the mandible toward the non-affected side; however, clinically, significant occlusal changes were not observed. This was attributed to the displacement of a small disc fragment rather than the entire disc. Including the cases presented, most instances of complete disc tearing responded well to conservative treatment such as pharmacotherapy and physical therapy, resulting in pain alleviation, and residual occlusal changes were tolerable for the patients in their daily activities. However, persistent occlusal changes or severe chewing difficulty may require surgical intervention.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 2021

Background: The options for stabilization appliance therapy for masticatory muscle pain include soft occlusal and hard stabilization appliances. A previous study suggested that hard stabilization appliance therapy was effective for patients with local myalgia who developed long facets on their occlusal appliances. The objective of this study was to identify patients in whom a soft occlusal appliance should be used to treat masticatory muscle pain by analyzing the type of muscle pain present and patient factors that influenced the effectiveness of this treatment. Methods: The study included 42 patients diagnosed with local myalgia or myofascial pain according to the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders Diagnostic Decision Tree. The analysis of patient factors included variables believed to be associated with temporomandibular disorders. First, a temporary screening appliance was used for 2 weeks to assess each patient for bruxism during sleep. Soft appliance therapy was then started. For each patient, the effectiveness of the appliance was evaluated according to the intensity of tenderness during muscle palpation and the treatment satisfaction score at one month after starting treatment. Results: Data from 37 of the 42 patients were available for analysis. Twenty-five patients reported satisfaction with the appliance. In logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio for reduction of facet length was 1.998. Nineteen patients showed at least a 30% improvement in the visual analog scale score. The odds ratio for local myalgia was 18.148. Conclusion: Soft appliance therapy may be used in patients with local myalgia. Moreover, patients who develop short facets on the appliance surface are likely to be satisfied with soft appliance therapy. Soft appliance therapy may be appropriate for patients with local myalgia who develop short facets on their occlusal appliance.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.461-468
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate effect of upper cervical stabilization exercise on Temporomandibular Disorder(TMD) and pressure pain threshold. 36 subjects were divided into two groups: upper cervical stabilization exercise group(UCSEG) and control on three times a week for a total of four weeks. The upper cervical stabilization group showed more significant effect than the control group (p <.01, 95% CI: 8.074, 16.899). (p <.01, 95% CI: .826, 3.243). In the change of pressure pain threshold, the upper cervical stabilization group showed significant improvement in both the masticatory muscle(p <.01, 95% CI: .251, 1.382) and masticatory muscle(p <.01, 95% CI: .462, 1.826).The results of this study showed that the upper cervical stabilization exercise was effective that TMD. It will be able to provide more effective interventions for patients suffering from TMD, and to suggest new approaches for TMD patients.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.55-65
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• 2005

Most patients with temporomandibular disorder can be treated conservatively. However, open TMJ surgery can be needed in some patients. We analysed the patients with TMD which open surgery has performed since 1998. Open surgery was carried out in 8 patients. Age ranged from 22 to 61 years, with a mean of 42.8years. All patients were male. Final diagnosis was obtained based upon clinical, radiographic and operative finding as follows; habitual luxation, bony ankylosis, traumatic arthritis, disc displacement with destructive change, disc displacement and adhesion. Etiologic factors included trauma(4), infection(2), and unknown(2). Open surgery included arthroplasty with either of condylectomy, eminectomy, meniscoplasty, capsurrohaphy. All patients were recovered uneventfully without severe complications. Some mouth opening limitation and mouth opening deviation remained. Postoperative aggressive physical therapy and careful follow up were performed. In conclusion, open TMJ surgery must be considered in organic disease such as ankylosis, tumor and TMD without favorable recovery after long-term conservative therapy.

• Journal of TMJ Balancing Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.18-23
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• 2019

Objectives: The aim of our study was to report clinical improvement of a patient who suffered from Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) being treated with Korean Medical treatments and Intraoral Balancing Appliance (IBA). Methods: During the admission period, the patient was treated with acupuncture, cupping, Korean Medicine, Chuna therapy and FCST (Functional Cerebrospinal Therapy) every day. And we observed patient's condition by Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Pain Disability Index (PDI), EQ-5D-5L (Five-level EuroQol-5 dimensions), and assessment about range of motion(ROM) for temporomandibular joint and cervix. Results: After treated for 4 weeks, the patient's NRS, PDI, EQ-5D-5L and ROM were improved. Conclusions: Korean Medical treatments including FCST are estimated to be effective for patients with TMD. But the case was only one, so more cases and further research is needed to prove the effectiveness of the treatment.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.31-42
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• 2023

Objectives This study aimed to conduct a systematic review evaluating the effectiveness of muscle energy technique(MET) in temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD). Methods Searches were conducted in 11 electronic databases until October 2023. Randomized controlled trials(RCT) comparing the effect of MET for TMD were included. All studies were evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Results Nine documents that fulfilled all the criteria were obtained for analysis. All studies showed some concerns in high risk of bias, but showed a significant improvement in pain and maximum mouth opening compared to baseline of MET or control group. MET was not better than extracorporeal shock wave therapy or myofascial release in some outcomes. Conclusions MET seems to be an effective treatment for TMD in some regards, however, can be considered as an adjunct therapy which has weak evidence. Further studies are required due to the inconclusive data and poor homogeneity found in this review.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.177-183
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• 2006

The management of refractory pain and limitation of mouth opening in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is both challenging and controversial. Arthrocentesis is a simple technique and it can be used instead of more invasive surgical procedures for patients who failed to conventional conservative treatments. The patients in this case report had complained persistent severe pain and restricted mandibular movement of TMJ, although they had been treated with conservative therapy, e.g., stabilization splint therapy, behavioral therapy, physical therapy, pharmacological therapy. Therefore we employed arthrocentesis for these patients, and they showed significant reduction of pain and improvement of mandibular movement after repetitive arthrocentesis. We recommend arthrocentesis as an effective, minimally invasive technique for patients with continuing severe pain and restricted mobility in the TMJ that is unresponsive to conservative management.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.319-328
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• 2009

Temporomandibular disorders(TMD) have been defined as a collective term embracing a number of clinical problems that involve the temporomandibular joint, the masticatory muscles, and associated structures. Since Dr. Costen, an otolaryngologist, published his article in 1934 claiming that pain in and around the jaw and "related ear symptoms" improved with alteration of the bite, diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular disorders(TMD) have been within the concept of occlusion. However most of the modern descriptions for TMD no longer include occlusal disorders within their domain. Despite this trend toward the exclusion of occlusal disorders from TMD domain, the historical linkages between TMD and occlusal therapy are still strong. Currently the most popular theories regarding TMD etiology are based on the biopsychosocial model. In the future, treatment modalities should be directed at the pathophysiological processes of joint and muscle pain as well as the psychosocial aspects of chronic pain.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2023

We present the case of a 60-year-old male with post-macrotrauma disc displacement and retrodiscitis, in which temporomandibular joint (TMJ) injection and manual therapy were used to alleviate his symptoms. He visited our clinic with complaints of pain and swelling in his right facial area and malocclusion of his right side teeth after being hit on the right side of his face five days earlier. During clinical and radiological examinations, the inflammatory state of the joint and disc displacement on the right side, which led to malocclusion, were noted. At the initial visit, we performed TMJ intracapsular injection and prescribed medications to control pain and inflammation. Simultaneously, manual manipulation was performed to relocate the disc. The same treatments were employed two days later. However, 10 days after the first visit, his symptoms did not mitigate substantially. We also performed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), prescribed nortriptyline, and created a stabilization splint. MRI images depicted inflammatory disc displacement and joint effusion in the right TMJ. Based on the accurate diagnosis, we kept administering a stabilization splint, intra-articular injection, and medication. His signs and symptoms were alleviated 20 days after the initial visit and did not reoccur for the next 40 days.