Efeito da craniopuntura e laseracupuntura na dor durante o protocolo de atendimento em pacientes com disfunção temporomandibular: resultados preliminares.

INTRODUCTION: Craniopuncture and laseracupuncture have been used as therapeutic alternatives for the treatment of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD), however, there ia little scientific evidence to prove its effectiveness. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the immediate effectiveness of craniopuncture and laseracupuncture in reducing pain in patients with TMD, monitoring the pain experience in each patient session according to the type of TMD that it presents. METHODOLOGY: This is a serie of cases of nine patients diagnosed with TMD through Axis I of the RDC-TMD (Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders). The chosen patients went through eight sessions of craniopuncture (six patients) and laseracupuncture (three patients) that happened twice a week along four weeks. In the Zhu technique, the selected points were VG-20 (Baihui), VG-21 (Qianding), VG-22 (Xinhui) and VG-24 (Shenting) of the Eding Zone, which run from the top of the head to the hairline, such zone being chosen based on its energetic functions. The points of the Jiao Shunfa school were added, referring to the face motor area and face sensitive area. Pain was evaluated by the Visual Analog Pain Scale (VAS) before and after each session and descriptive analysis of graphs and tables was done. RESULTS: Overall, there was a reduction in patients' EVA, noted by the difference between the mean initial VAS of all patients who were submitted to therapy at each session and the mean of all indices after each session and it was not possible to see differences in the responses of patientes regarding the type of TMD with which they were diagnosed. CONCLUSION: Craniopuncture and laseracupuncture were effective in reducing pain in patients with TMD and it was not possible to see in the study the influence of TMD type on the response to therapies.