TOOTH EXTRACTION UNDER ACUPUNCTURE ANESTHESIA

Gu Zuqian, Wang Yangqiu, Yin Xiaorong, Yin Yexiang, Yu Minghui, Wang Huajun, Chen Weimin

(The 2nd Hospital, Wuhan Medical College, Wuhan)

This paper is a resume of the results of clinical research on tooth extractions under acupuncture anesthesia (AA) during the 10 year period from March 1972 to Feb. 1983 in our department, the number totaling 3,150 cases. There were 3,691 permanent teeth which were extracted.

The majority of them were stimulated by the electric current with acupuncture anesthesia apparatus (AAA) and the five points in the maxillofacial region were used, i.e., Renkuang, Chenghai, Bichungou, Yaojishang and Xiachicao. The effects of AA were divided into 4 grades.

The rates of I & II grades were from 60.01~86.737o, which averaged 80.12% in all cases. Several main data were analysed statistically:

There appeared to be no relationship between the effect of tooth extractions under AA and sex (P>0.05).

The age of patients had relation to the effects of tooth extractions under AA, those younger than 15, the effects of AA were worse than the other groups (P<0,01).

The relation between the induction time and the effects of AA, there was no significant difference in each group (P>0.05). Usually, 1'-14' were used.

There seems to be no relation between the duration of operation and the effect of AA (P>0.05).

The position of teeth showed relationship to the effects of tooth extraction under AA:

the maxillary ones were superior to the mandibular ones, the anterior ones were superior to the posterior ones, the effects of AA of anterior teeth in maxilla were the best, while the effects of AA in lower molars were poor (P<0.01).

The points had relative particularity. Among the points which showed significant difference in the effect of AA, Xiachicao proved poor (P<0.01).

Type of diseases operated upon: tooth extractions for prosthesis & orthodontics etc, had the best effects in AA, but the impacted teeth and tooth extractions in acute inflammatory states had poor effects (P<0.01).

In our opinion, tooth extractions under AA have many advantages: There are convenience and safety, but no severe complications and no allergic reactions, the postoperative reactions arc mild. The majority of patients need no sedatives.

It may be considered that the intensity of electrical stimulation is stable, the frequency-being equal, adjustable, persistent and easy of control. Better AAA could raise the rates of grades I & II.

The authors suggest that this method might be used more widely excepting the impacted teeth, tooth extraction during acute inflammatory states and non-vital teeth in all of which AA can still be used in selected cases.