Swed Dent J
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Ten patients with chronic facial pain and long lasting mandibular dysfunction symptoms were treated with acupuncture. All patients, two men and eight women aged between 39 and 71 years (mean = 51.0 years), exhibited a complex pain symptomatology with, basically, daily constant pain with an average duration of 13 years. The patients had resisted all previous conventional stomatognathic treatment. ⋯ The objective criteria used for assessment of a favourable response to treatment were fulfilled by three patients immediately after treatment and at 3, 7 and 14 months after treatment. No significant negative effects of the treatment were recorded. It is concluded that acupuncture may be a realistic alternative to other, conventional stomatognathic treatment for some patients with long lasting chronic facial pain.