Effectiveness of Auricular Electrical Stimulation in Treatment of Patients with Temporomandibular Dysfunction Pain

Electrical stimulation of the auricle (auriculotherapy) is considered an effective analgesic technique for chronic pain. The main purpose of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of auriculotherapy on myofacial pain due to tempromandibular dysfunction. Using double blind evaluation method, 16 patients, 11 study and 5 control groups, were utilized for this project. Auricular points on the ear, known to show lower resistance in the tempromandibular disorder were electrically stimulated using Pointer Plus device, a hand-held probe with a concentric, bipolar, spring-loaded tip using 0-22mA at a 10Hz frequency output and 240 usec pulse width according to the manufacture instructions. Sham points were stimulated in the control group. Initial treatment followed by three consecutive treatment sessions, once weekly was conducted. Pain during talking was reported by 3(27.3%) patients was completely eliminated after fourth follow up visit, whereas pain during mouth opening, reported by 9(81.8%) patients, decreased to 5(45.5%). Pain in the jaw and frequent headache was reported by 8(72.7%) and 7(63.7%) patients and decreased to 2(18.2%). In contrast, pain during yawning was reported by 4(36.4%) patients increased to 6 (54.5%) in the fourth visit. Positive results were noticed in the control group. Pain during yawing reported by 3(60%) decreased to 1(20%) patient and pain in the jaw in 1(20%) patient was completely eliminated and tenderness on palpation of deep masseter muscle reported by 4(80%) patients decreased to 2(40%) patients after fourth visit. Auriculotherapy is known as safe and non-invasive treatment modality. Its application to TMD pain seems to be moderately effective.