Effects of protocol utilized for collection of whole saliva stimulated by TENS in healthy adult Indians

Objective: The objective 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 for collection of saliva influence the quantity of saliva stimulated.

Materials and Methods: Using an extraoral TENS applied over parotid glands stimulated whole saliva flow rate in fifty healthy adult subjects was measured Collection of TENS stimulated saliva was performed on day 1 after collection of unstimulated saliva, on day 2 only TENS stimulated saliva was measured. The data obtained was subjected 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 subjects tested) responded to TENS therapy with an increase of stimulated whole saliva flow rate .There was a reduction in quantity of TENS stimulated saliva on day one and two with a difference of 4% which statistically significant with p value 0.009.

Conclusions: Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) as an extra-oral device can be considered as a safe, non-pharmacological measure in order to achieve an increase of the rate of unstimulated saliva. Further studies should be conducted to evaluate the possibility of using TENS in relieving the symptoms of xerostomia.