Acupuncture for TMJ Pain

1. A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis examined 19 randomised controlled trials involving 708 people with temporomandibular disorders. Compared with control treatments, acupuncture was associated with a statistically significant reduction in pain and improvement in maximum mouth opening. The analysis found similar results for needle and laser acupuncture. The researchers recommended further high-quality studies with longer follow-up periods to confirm the most appropriate treatment approach.
2. A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis reviewed 32 randomised clinical trial reports, with 22 studies involving 471 participants included in the quantitative analysis. Acupuncture was associated with improvements in pain and overall treatment response when compared with active controls and when added to other treatments. However, the quality of the evidence was rated low to very low, so the findings should be interpreted carefully.
3. A 2024 randomised, sham-controlled clinical trial involved 60 adults with pain-related TMD lasting at least three months. Participants received either acupuncture or non-penetrating sham acupuncture three times per week for four weeks. The acupuncture group reported a greater reduction in pain at weeks four and eight, along with improvements in jaw opening, movement and functional limitations. Because this was a single-centre trial with a relatively small group, larger studies are still needed to confirm the results.

Taken together, the findings suggest that acupuncture may be a worthwhile complementary option for people experiencing TMJ pain, muscular tension or restricted jaw movement. The evidence is most supportive of short-term pain reduction and improved mouth opening, while longer-term outcomes require further study.