2025 AAOM/EAOM Joint Meeting: Acupuncture Workshop

Ear Acupuncture in Oral Medicine: A Contemporary Therapeutic with Ancient Foundation
Saturday, May 17
8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Fee:

Workshop Synopsis: This interactive two-hour workshop is designed for dental professionals and oral healthcare practitioners seeking to expand their therapeutic toolkit through the use of ear acupuncture in managing complex orofacial conditions. The session will cover a range of clinical applications for auriculotherapy, focusing on the treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, hyposalivation, neuropathic facial pain (including trigeminal neuralgia and persistent idiopathic facial pain), aphthous ulcers, and dental anesthesia or analgesia. Participants will gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, beginning with a didactic lecture to explain the mechanisms, indications, and evidence-based approaches, followed by a hands-on practice session using silicone ear models.  

Speaker/Instructor: Dharti Patel, DMD FDSRCS (Ed) ND, MSOM, DAcHM
Sonoran University of Health Science College of Naturopathic Medicine 

Didactic Lecture (1 hour)

Title: Understanding the fundamentals of auriculoacupuncture

Lecture synopsis: This lecture will highlight the specific applications of auriculoacupuncture in oral health and provide an overview of the recent clinical studies and the current scientific evidence of this interventional modality.

Learning Objective:

1. Gain insight into the history and principles of ear acupuncture, including its neurophysiological basis
2. Explore the role of ear acupuncture in oral medicine practice through the management of various conditions (e.g., TMJ disorders, dry mouth, and neuropathic facial pain, aphthous ulcers) in addition to its application in dental anesthesia/analgesia.
3. Analyze clinical evidence supporting the effectiveness of ear acupuncture in treating these conditions, focusing on case studies and research outcomes. 

Hands-On Session (1 hour)

Session synopsis: Using silicon ear models, this simulation session will equip participants with the knowledge and confidence to incorporate auriculoacupuncture into their clinical practice, providing a non-invasive, holistic approach to treating common oral health challenges.

Learning Objectives:

1. Practice locating and identifying key acupuncture points on the ear related to certain orofacial conditions/disorders using silicone ear models.
2. Gain hands-on experience in needle placement, palpation of relevant points, and understanding techniques for optimizing treatment outcomes.
3. Perform targeted acupuncture protocols for managing TMJ disorders, hyposalivation, facial neuropathic pain, and dental anesthesia under expert guidance.

Speakers/Instructors: Dharti Patel, DMD FDSRCS (Ed) ND, MSOM, DAcHM
Sonoran University of Health Science College of Naturopathic Medicine

Moderator: Arwa M. Farag, BDS, DMSc, Dip ABOM, Dip ABOP, FDS RCSEd
Associate professor
Division of Oral Medicine, Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences, King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Division of Oral Medicine, Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA

Register for this workshop as part of the AAOM/EAOM Joint Annual Meeting.