Laser acupuncture in the treatment of neuropathies in dentistry: a systematic review

Efficacy of acupuncture-related therapy in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea: A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Objectives

In order to compare and rank the most effective acupuncture therapy for primary dysmenorrhea and provide evidence-based medical support for clinical treatment of this disease.

Methods

A comprehensive search was conducted on China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, Information Chinese Journal Service Platform (VIP), China Biomedical Literature Service System (SinoMed), PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases from their inception to May 1, 2023. The Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool was used to evaluate bias risk, and the GeMTC package of Stata 15.1 software and R 4.3.1 software was used to perform network Meta-analysis.

Results

70 studies were included, including 5772 patients with primary dysmenorrhea, involving 25 kinds of acupuncture techniques commonly used in clinic. The quality of the included literature was low, most of them did not mention the registration information of clinical trial centers, and the specific sample size estimation method was unclear. Some literature did not explain the specific random method, distribution concealment and blindness, so there was a certain publication bias and small sample effect. Results showed that for improving the clinical effective rate, the top three treatments were salt-separated moxibustion, massotherapy + acupoint patching, acupuncture + heat-sensitive moxibustion. In terms of reducing the visual analogue scale(VAS), the top three treatments were massotherapy + acupoint patching, acupuncture + acupoint patching and warm acupuncture. In terms of alleviating cox menstrual symptom scale (CMSS), the top three treatments were acupuncture + acupoint patching, acupoint patching and point embedding. In relieving TCM symptom score, the top three treatments were acupoint patching + heat-sensitive moxibustion, acupoint patching and moxibustion.

Conclusion

Different acupuncture therapies have more advantages than oral analgesics in improving the clinical effective rate, reducing VAS score, reducing CMSS score, and alleviating TCM symptom score. Among them, massage therapy + acupoint patching, acupuncture + acupoint patching and acupoint patching may be the best solutions for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. However, more large-sample, multi-center and high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to demonstrate.

[Low power laser as an adjuvant to paresthesia. report of two cases]

Tooth extraction or extraction is a common procedure in dental practice, although it is a common practice, it is not exempt from complications. Paraesthesia is defined as a neuropathy with altered sensations and permanent anesthesia. The case of two patients who attended the Department of Pathology at the Faculty of Dentistry with paresthesia is reported. Both were treated with low-power laser therapy, showing a significant improvement in their clinical condition. The application of low-power laser presents ideal benefits in various areas of the stomatological field. As it is a non-invasive, painless treatment and short sessions, the patient is encouraged to continue with the treatment until they are almost completely rehabilitated.

Efficacy of acupuncture and laser acupuncture in temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to perform a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the scientific literature regarding the use of acupuncture and laser acupuncture in the treatment of pain associated with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). The aim of this article was to assess the clinical evidence for acupuncture and laser acupuncture therapies as treatment for temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This systematic review includes randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of acupuncture and laser acupuncture as a treatment for TMD compared to other treatments. Systematic searches were conducted in 3 electronic databases up to July 2023; PubMed, EMBASE, and SCOPUS databases. All RCTs of acupuncture for TMD were searched without language restrictions. Studies in which no clinical data and complex interventions were excluded. The Cochrane risk of bias tool (RoB 2) tool was employed to analyze randomized controlled trials. A Meta-analysis was performed in order to investigate a quantitative analysis comparing acupuncture and laser acupuncture to placebo.

RESULTS

A total of 11 RCTs met our inclusion criteria. The findings show that acupuncture is short-term helpful for reducing the severity of TMD pain with muscle origin. Meta-analysis revealed that the Acupuncture group and Laser Acupuncture group had a higher efficacy rate than the Placebo control group, showing a high efficacy of Acupuncture and Laser Acupuncture group in the treatment of temporomandibular.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, our systematic review demonstrate that the evidence for acupuncture as a symptomatic treatment of TMD is limited. Further rigorous studies are, however, required to establish beyond doubt whether acupuncture has therapeutic value for this indication. However high efficacy of Laser Acupuncture in the treatment of temporomandibular disorders was reported.

Laser acupuncture and photobiomodulation therapy in Bell's palsy with a duration of greater than 8 weeks: a randomized controlled trial

To investigate the efficacy of laser acupuncture and photobiomodulation therapy in alleviating symptoms among patients diagnosed with Bell's palsy with duration of greater than 8 weeks. The randomized controlled trial has been performed from May 2021 to April 2023. Patients were eligible who had Bell's palsy with duration of greater than 8 weeks on out-patient Department of Otorhinolaryngology in Beijing Tongren Hospital. The laser acupuncture group received class IV laser treatment for 3 times per weeks, a total of 72 times. The control group received the same treatment procedure except the laser parameter. The primary outcome measures comprised House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system and electroneurography. Secondary outcome measures comprised Sunnybrook facial grading system, electromyography, and the blink reflex. A total of 84 participants were included (42 control group, 42 laser acupuncture group). After treatment, House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system (OR, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.04-0.30; P < 0.001), and the pathologic numbers of electroneuronography were statistically different between the laser acupuncture group and control group, including orbicularis oculi (OR,0.08; 95% CI, 0.02-0.21; P < 0.001), Frontalis muscle (OR,0.14; 95% CI, 0.05-0.39; P < 0.001), Orbicularis oris (OR,0.13; 95% CI, 0.04-0.36; P < 0.001), Ala nasi muscle (OR,0.06; 95% CI, 0.02-0.18; P < 0.001). In secondary outcomes, Sunnybrook facial grading system, has significant difference between the two groups (20.26; 95% CI, 14.69 to 25.83; P < 0.01). Latency by ENoG, include orbicularis oculi (-0.61; 95% CI, -0.43 to -0.09; P < 0.001), frontalis muscle (-0.12; 95% CI, -0.21 to -0.03; P < 0.01), orbicularis oris (-0.28; 95% CI, -0.41 to -0.16; P < 0.001), and ala nasi muscle (-0.26; 95% CI, -0.38 to -0.16; P < 0.001). All amplitudes of MUAPs and durations by electromyography (EMG) showed statistically significant differences compared with the control group after treatment. For the frontalis muscle, the amplitude of MUAPs was -64.23 (95% CI, -80.89 to -47.56; P < 0.001) and duration was -1.18 (95% CI, -1.49 to -0.87; P < 0.001). For orbicularis oris, amplitude of MUAPs was -29.82 (95% CI, -55.03 to -4.62; P = 0.02) and duration was -0.57 (95% CI, -0.94 to -0.20; P < 0.001). For depressor angulli oris, amplitude of MUAPs was -47.06 (95% CI, -62.15 to -31.97; P < 0.001) and duration was -2.21 (95% CI, -2.69 to -1.72; P < 0.001). Blink reflex, including R1 (OR, 0.03; 95% CI, 0.01-0.16; P < .001), R2 (OR, 0.04; 95% CI, 0.004-0.29; P < .001), and R2 latency differences (OR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.05-0.51; P < .001), have significant difference between the two groups, respectively. The findings suggest that laser acupuncture relieve symptoms for patients with Bell's palsy with a duration of greater than 8 weeks.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05846217.