Acupuncture Points for Postoperative Dental Pain

2 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (4 points)

100%

CYC01 · IAC03 · TF10 · TR01

CYC01Stomach

CYC01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 胃 (wèi)

🎯 Location: At the area where Helix Crus disappears.

⚠️ Cautions: Adjunctive only – haematemesis, melaena or unremitting epigastric pain needs urgent medical assessment. Strict asepsis: perichondritis of the auricular cartilage is the significant risk with ear needling.

🛡️ Treats: Vomiting, Toothache, Nausea, Belching, Gastritis

IAC03Sympathetic

IAC03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 交感 (jiāo gǎn)

🎯 Location: On both ears, at the end of the upper edge of the lower Crus of the Antihelix.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Etc, Over Secretion Diseases, Internal Organ Pain, Autonomic Nerve Disorders, Spasms

TF10Shenmen

TF10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 神門 (shén mén)

🎯 Location: At the midpoint between Pelvis and Hepatitis.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Pain, Inflammation, Restless Spirit, Emotional And Mental Disorders

TR01Adrenal Gland

TR01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腎上腺 (shèn shàng xiàn)

🎯 Location: In the center of the lower part of the Tragus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Etc, Bronchial Asthma, Hematochezia, Profuse Menstruation, Rheumatic Diseases

Study-reported

Laser · 3 sessions over 3 days

No better than sham needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0197989 ↗

Protocol (10 points)

90%

LI04 · ST06 · ST07 · ST44 · SI19 · BL60 · TB21 · GB34 · LV03 · GV20

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 合谷 (hé gǔ)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the hand between 1st & 2nd metacarpal bones approximately in the middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side.

⚠️ Cautions: Traditionally forbidden in pregnancy – these are the points used to bring on labour at term. Controlled data show no excess of preterm birth or stillbirth (Carr 2015), but in pregnancy needle only on a clear obstetric indication.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Tinnitus, Release Exterior, Absent Periods, Wind

ST06Jaw Bone

ST06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 頰車 (jiá chē)

🎯 Location: One finger breadth (middle finger) anterior & superior to the lower angle of the mandible where masseter is prominent when teeth are clenched & depressive when it is pressed.

⚠️ Cautions: Needle shallowly and obliquely; avoid the facial artery and deep needling into the joint capsule.

🛡️ Treats: Wind, Pain, Deviation Eye, Facial Droop, Mumps

ST07Below The Arch

ST07 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 下關 (xià guān)

🎯 Location: On the face anterior to the ear in the depression the between zygomatic arch and mandibular notch; point is located with mouth closed.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with temporal artery.

🛡️ Treats: Tinnitus, Swelling, Pain, Deafness, Deviation Eye

ST44Inner Court

ST44 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 內庭 (nèi tíng)

🎯 Location: Proximal to the web margin the between 2nd and 3rd toes in the depression the distal and lateral to the 2nd metatarsodigital joint.

⚠️ Cautions: Anticoagulant therapy or a coagulopathy raises the risk of haematoma at the needling site – apply prolonged pressure on withdrawal. The precaution governs technique; bleeding disorders remain a treatable indication.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Tinnitus, Common Cold, Constipation, Abdominal Pain

SI19Palace Of Hearing

SI19 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Small Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 聽宮 (tīng gōng)

🎯 Location: Anterior to the tragus and posterior to the condyloid process of the mandible in the depression the formed when mouth is open.

⚠️ Cautions: Needle with the mouth open, and avoid deep needling towards the tympanic membrane.

🛡️ Treats: Tinnitus, Deafness, Epilepsy, Voice Loss, Toothache

BL60Kunlun (Mountains)

BL60 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 崑崙 (kūn lún)

🎯 Location: In the depression the between tip of the external malleolus and achilles tendon.

⚠️ Cautions: Traditionally forbidden in pregnancy – these are the points used to bring on labour at term. Controlled data show no excess of preterm birth or stillbirth (Carr 2015), but in pregnancy needle only on a clear obstetric indication.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Shortness of Breath, Heat, Chest Fullness, Abdominal Pain

TB21Ear Gate

TB21 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 耳門 (ěr mén)

🎯 Location: In the depression the anterior to the supratragic notch and behind posterior border of the condyloid process of the mandible; point is located with mouth open.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with auricular cartilage.

🛡️ Treats: Tinnitus, Heat, Swelling, Deafness, Headache

GB34Yang Mound Spring

GB34 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 陽陵泉 (yáng líng quán)

🎯 Location: In the depression the anterior and inferior to the head of the fibula.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Knee Pain, Jaundice, Constipation, Vomiting

LV03Great Surge

LV03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Liver Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太衝 (tài chōng)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the foot in the depression the distal to the junction of the 1st and 2nd metatarsal bones.

⚠️ Cautions: Monitor blood pressure and avoid strong stimulation where hypertension is uncontrolled or unstable; hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Shortness of Breath, Sweating

GV20100 Convergences

GV20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 百會 (bǎi huì)

🎯 Location: On the midline of the head 5 thumb widths directly above the midpoint of the anterior hairline approximately on the midpoint of the line connecting apex of the ears.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Palpitations, Jaundice, Qi Deficiency

Text or case report

Needling · 4 sessions over 3 days

Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report.

Acupuncture on Anxiety and Inflammatory Events Following Surgery of Mandibular Third Molars. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03545022
Not substantiated. Studies in the index cover this search, and none of their protocols use any of these points.
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Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Postoperative Dental Pain:

Points cited for Postoperative Dental Pain

How often each point appears across the 2 entries ranked highest for Postoperative Dental Pain. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • BL60Kunlun (Mountains)Bladder Meridian1 of 2
  • CYC01StomachAuricular Points1 of 2
  • GB34Yang Mound SpringGallbladder Meridian1 of 2
  • GV20100 ConvergencesGoverning Vessel1 of 2
  • IAC03SympatheticAuricular Points1 of 2
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian1 of 2
  • LV03Great SurgeLiver Meridian1 of 2
  • SI19Palace Of HearingSmall Intestine Meridian1 of 2
  • ST06Jaw BoneStomach Meridian1 of 2
  • ST07Below The ArchStomach Meridian1 of 2
  • ST44Inner CourtStomach Meridian1 of 2
  • TB21Ear GateTriple Burner Meridian1 of 2

How the studies delivered it

What the 1 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Laser1 of 1

After a treatment: what large safety surveys recorded, and which reactions need a doctor.

Disclaimer: The acupoint information provided is for educational purposes only.