Why
should a dentist use acupuncture?
Dentists
don't just fix a broken tooth or make a denture. Their professional
training, and knowledge of their patients, places them in
a unique position to diagnose and treat a number of conditions
that occur in the head and neck, conditions which often produce
symptoms felt in the mouth. Dentists may combine acupuncture
with more "conventional" treatments to give you the best results,
for example toothache might need a filling but acupuncture
may help with any after pain. Your dentist will advise you
if acupuncture is a suitable treatment for you, or not.
Conditions
that we might treat with acupuncture:
- TMJ (jaw
joint) pain
- TMJ clicking & locking
- Facial pain
- Muscle spasm
- Chronic stress headache
- Migraine
- dental anxiety
- Rhinititis & Sinusitis
- prominent retch reflex
- Trigeminal & other neuralgias
- Xerostomia (dry mouth problems)
- Altered sensation in the mouth
- post operative pain |
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WHAT
HAPPENS DURING A TREATMENT?
Very fine needles are inserted through the skin and gently
stimulated by hand. The treatment doesn’t
generally take very long, often uses about half a dozen needles
(this varies on the patient) and is not
usually painful although there may be some discomfort. Your
dentist may do some other dental treatment
whilst the acupuncture works. Sometimes the position of the
needles can seem strange, but there are
specific patterns for treatments.
Modern research has shown that acupuncture can work on most
of the body’s systems. The needles
stimulate the nervous system, to produce a number of effects,
modifying the way pain signals are felt,
and releasing natural painkillers -Endorphin & Serotonin-
in the nervous system. But acupuncture does
more than just control pain, it has a generally beneficial
effect on health, and many patients feel better
in general, and sleep better following a treatment. Treatments
may begin with weekly sessions with
further visits as prescribed by your dentist. About half a
dozen treatments is a common prescription.
WILL IT WORK FOR ME?
We can show by experiment that acupuncture works, and that
the results are not due to the placebo effect.
People will respond to acupuncture in their own way. Some
patients notice an immediate improvement,
some find that several treatments are needed before the full
effect is felt. There are some that do not
respond to this type of treatment. Generally 70% of patients
show some benefits.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER TREATMENT?
Many patients feel a little tired after a treatment. Occasionally
the acupuncture sites may feel slightly
bruised for 24 hours or so. It is not uncommon for patients
to notice other changes, for example their back
pain improves, or other aches change and become more
obvious as the major problem is treated and improves.
- Rhinititis & Sinusitis
- prominent retch refl ex
- Trigeminal & other neuralgias
- Xerostomia (dry mouth problems)
- Altered sensation in the mouth
- post operative pain
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