Effect of TENS on whole saliva in healthy adult Indians: evaluation of influence of protocol on quantity of saliva measured

Abstract

Objective: The obj ective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Transcutaneous Electric Nerve stimulation(TENS) on whole salivary flow rate in healthy adult subjects and to find out whether the protocol utilized forcollection of saliva influence the quantity of saliva stimulated. Materials and Methods: Using an extraoral TENS applied over parotid glands stimulated whole saliva flow ratein fifty healthy adult subjects was measured Collection of TENS stimulated saliva was performed on day 1 aftercollection of unstimulated saliva, on day 2 only TENS stimulated saliva was measured. The data obtained wassubjected to statistical analysis using paired t test. Results: Thirty nine patients on day one and thirty six patients on day two out of 50 (75 % of the subj ects tested)responded to TENS therapy with an increase of stimulated whole saliva flow rate .There was a reduction inquantity of TENS stimulated saliva on day one and two with a difference of 4% which statistically significantwith p value 0.009. Conclusions: Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) as an extra-oral device can be considered as asafe, non-pharmacological measure in order to achieve an increase of the rate of unstimulated saliva. Furtherstudies should be conducted to evaluate the possibility of using TENS in relieving the symptoms of xerostomia.