Acupuncture in the Management of Anxiety Related to Dental Treatment: A Case Series

Abstract

Background Anxiety related to dental treatment is a common phenomenon that has a significant impact on the provision of appropriate dental care. The aim of this case series was to examine the effect of acupuncture given prior to dental treatment on the level of anxiety. Methods Eight dentists submitted 21 case reports regarding the treatment of dental anxiety. The level of anxiety was assessed by the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Only patients with moderate to severe anxiety (BAI score ≥16) were included. The remaining 20 patients, 16 women and 4 men, with a mean age of 40.3 years, had a median BAI score of 26.5 at baseline. The BAI score was assessed before and after the acupuncture treatment. All patients received acupuncture treatment for 5 min prior to the planned dental treatment using the points GV20 and EX6. Results There was a significant reduction in median value of BAI scores after treatment with acupuncture (26.5 reduced to 11.5; p<0.01), and it was possible to carry out the planned dental treatment in all 20 cases after acupuncture treatment. Previously this had only been possible in six cases. Conclusion Acupuncture prior to dental treatment has a beneficial effect on the level of anxiety in patients with dental anxiety and may offer a simple and inexpensive method of treatment. However, the present results need to be tested in a larger randomised clinical trial in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the acupuncture treatment in patients with dental anxiety.

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine for Survivors of Torture and Refugee Trauma: A Descriptive Report

“…The American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society have recently given recommendations that acupuncture be considered for the treatment of chronic low back pain [45], and the use of acupuncture has been endorsed for the treatment of pain in the medical literature [46]. While recent literature provides some evidence for the efficacy of acupuncture for treating symptoms including PTSD [47][48][49] and anxiety [50][51][52], only limited research has been conducted regarding the response to acupuncture treatment among refugees and traumatized individuals. Only one acupuncture study has been conducted targeting refugees suffering from PTSD.…”

Acupuncture: An Alternative Therapy in Dentistry and Its Possible Applications

“…In 2010, Rosted et al 23 examined the effect of acupuncture administered prior to dental treatment on patients' level of anxiety. Eight dentists submitted 21 case reports regarding their treatments for dental anxiety.…”

Influência da eletroacupuntura e laser-acupuntura no tratamento de parestesia em pacientes submetidos à cirurgia ortognática combinada e mentoplastia

“…A técnica de acupuntura consiste, basicamente, na inserção de agulhas em pontos específicos do corpo para promover efeitos locais e sistêmicos, atuando no restabelecimento do equilíbrio entre os diversos sistemas do corpo (Ahn et al, 2009). Dentre as vantagens oferecidas por esse método destacam-se a facilidade de aplicação, aceitação pelo paciente, ausência de efeitos colaterais e riscos controlados (Bresset, 1982;Carneiro, 2001;Rosted et al, 2010;Wong, 2012;Gupta et al, 2014).…”

“…A acupuntura tem sido utilizada no controle da dor, edema, redução da quantidade de anestésico no trans-operatório, assim como de analgésicos no pós-operatório (Wen, 2009;Rosted et al, 2010;Sari;Sari, 2010;Wong, 2012;Gupta et al, 2014). Além disso, tem aplicação descrita na diminuição das reações associadas ao ato cirúrgico (ex.…”

“…Além disso, tem aplicação descrita na diminuição das reações associadas ao ato cirúrgico (ex. : náuseas e vômitos), no controle da ansiedade no período pré-operatório e como possibilidade de tratamento de paralisias e parestesias, sendo a acupuntura descrita como promotora de sucesso clínico em casos de deficiência neurossensorial (Christensen et al, 1989;Hao et al,1995;Lao et al, 1999;Kitade;Ohyabu, 2000;Carneiro, 2001;Hsing, 2001;Somri et al, 2001;Kloth, 2003;Rosted et al, 2006;Tavares et al, 2007;Karst et al, 2007;Wen, 2009;Rosted et al, 2010;Sari;Sari, 2010;Wong, 2012;Gupta et al, 2014). Outras duas terapias atualmente utilizadas para o tratamento das parestesias do tipo neuropraxia e axonotmese de diversas etiologias são: (1) eletroacupuntura, que apresenta a mesma base da acupuntura, porém com agulhas ligadas a aparelhos elétricos que, ao serem acionados, produzem estímulos elétricos que geram uma ação analgésica e (2) laser-acupuntura, que é o uso do laser terapêutico de baixa potência nos pontos de acupuntura, seguindo os princípios da medicina tradicional chinesa (de Oliveira et al, 2015a).…”