Abstract
Acupuncture at the meridian point of “Gekan” was used to treat the patients' inferior articulator. Instead of using a needle, the authors irradiated the inferior articultor several times with a low power laser (Nd: YAG at 350mW). This relieved the pain somewhat. However, since the effectiveness of the treatment was decided by the patients' subjective judgment alone, the authors made an objective evaluation of the symptomatic change using thermography.
Furthermore, by combinig the use of the visual image mixing apparatus and thermography, we obtained a compound image made of both thermal and visul images. Also, we were able to find more objectively which portions of the masticatory muscle were affected by a locaizd and continuous deterioration of muscle tone. Metabolic disturbance caused by localized anemia causes pain. This pain, in turn, causes neuralgic dynfunction and abnormal jaw movement.
Finally, we also compared the treatment period when soft laser irradiation was used with that needed in the case of the myomonitor.
