Volume 1, Special Edition | Current Japanese Acupuncture and Moxibustion 2010

Acupuncture Practice in Dentistry in Japan

2. Indications for acupuncture-moxibustion in dentistry

Atushi Fukushima

The use of acupuncture is not limited only to

Director of Acupuncture-Moxibustion CenterFukushima Dental Clinic
Guest Lecturer at Oriental Medicine
Toho University Medical Center

anesthesia for dental extraction and analgesia inpatients suffering dental pain. It is now extended tothe treatment of oral diseases as shown below.
1) Diseases of oral mucosa:

1. History of Acupuncture-Moxibustion in Dentistry inJapanIn 1972, James Reston of New York Times, areporter on President Nixon’s trip to China reported tothe world the beneficial effects of acupunctureanesthesia. This led to an increased awareness ofacupuncture treatment in Japan, further leading toadvances in researches and the introduction ofacupuncture-moxibustion in various clinical sites.
The Japan Dental Society of Oriental Medicine
serves as a major center for providing education on theuseoforiental

medicineandpracticalacupuncture-moxibustion training in dentistry Some
dental universities include this education in theircurriculum. The Society was formed in 1979 when

Recurrent stomatitis,stomatitis herpetica, herpes zoster, oral candidosis,
lichen planus, leukoplakia
2) Diseases of lips: Angular stomatitis, chronic cheilitis
3) Diseases of Tongue: Geographical tongue, medianrhomboid glossitis, glossalgia
4) Diseases of salivary glands: Salivary calculi, drymouth5) Diseases of nervous system: Trigeminal neuralgia,
facial nerve paralysis
6) Disease of jaw joints: Jaw (temporomandibular) joint
disorder, jaw joint dislocation
7) Oral and maxillofacial inflammation: Pericoronitis
of wisdom toothAcupuncture-moxibustion
especiallyfor

thetreatment
diseases

exertsforits

WHO issued the statement of recommendation to its

efficacy

which

member states for positive use of acupuncture as part

therapeutic modalities of modern medicine have notof modern medicine. Kunio Matudaira, the firstbeen established, such as diseases of oral mucosa,chairman of the Society was the first dental surgeon

nerves, dry mouth, and jaw joints.

who introduced acupuncture into clinical dentistry,

3. Future Vision for Acupuncture-Moxibustion inpracticing acupuncture in the form of anesthesia andDentistry

pain relief in patients undergoing dental extraction orAcupuncture-moxibustion currently practiced inthose with other dental problems. Akira Fukuoka, theJapan, which was introduced to Japan from ancientsecond chairman of the Society promoted furtherChina, is classified into three groups:

clinical applications of oriental medicine in dentistry.

(1) traditional acupuncture-moxibustion advanced inMichizo Matsuo, the third chairman of the Society,Japan with its own style;made a great contribution in nurturing the Society to(2) acupuncture-moxibustion of Western medicine

the present nationwide organization. Koichi Okamura,nature based on anatomy, physiology, and pathology;

the fourth president of the Society, deepened ties withandChina from the viewpoint of integration of traditional(3) acupuncture-moxibustion of traditional Chinese

Chinese and Western medicine. The Society’s history ismedicine. In order to respond to a variety of intractable

now taken over by incumbent president Koichi

oral diseases, it is desirable that remedial procedures

Okamura. The membership is comprised mainly ofwith acupuncture-moxibustion be established based onclinicians (as of 2008, 900 members), many of whomscientificareadvantages of oriental-Western medicine.

tryingto

willingly

administer

acupuncture

grounds

built

treatment.

84

The Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

bythe

integrationof