Efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on salivary flow rates in normal healthy adults according to gender and age groups

C Ramesh; Sharad Sawant; Deepak Kolte; Barun Kumar; Kosuru Kranthi; Tejal Patil; J Babu; C Swarnalatha; Abhishek Nayyar

doi:10.4103/ajns.AJNS_48_21

Asian Journal of Neurosurgery, Table of Contents

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Asian J Neurosurg 2021; 16(04): 770-776
DOI: 10.4103/ajns.AJNS_48_21

Original Article

Efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on salivary flow rates in normal healthy adults according to gender and age groups

C Ramesh

Department of Dentistry, Shri Sathya Sai Medical College and Research Institute, Ammapettai, Nellikuppam Post, Chengalpattu District, Nellikuppam, Tamil Nadu

,

Sharad Sawant

¹Department of General Surgery, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University) Medical College and Hospital, Sangli

,

Deepak Kolte

²Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University) Dental College and Hospital, Navi Mumbai

,

Barun Kumar

²Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University) Dental College and Hospital, Navi Mumbai

,

Kosuru Kranthi

³Department of Periodontology, Meghna Institute of Dental Sciences, Nizamabad, Telangana

,

Tejal Patil

²Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University) Dental College and Hospital, Navi Mumbai

,

J Babu

⁴Division of Periodontology, Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of Ha'il, Ha'il

,

C Swarnalatha

⁴Division of Periodontology, Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of Ha'il, Ha'il

,

Abhishek Nayyar

⁵Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Saraswati Dhanwantari Dental College and Hospital and Post-Graduate Research Institute, Parbhani, Maharashtra

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Introduction: Salivary gland hypofunction might be associated with various local and systemic conditions and is managed with a plethora of therapeutic options with associated side effects. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is one such option with no known systemic side effects for dealing with this crippling condition. The present study was planned with a similar intent of assessing impact of TENS on salivary flow rates in normal healthy adults according to gender and age groups. Materials and Methods: The present study was designed as a cross-sectional study on 130 healthy adults wherein unstimulated and stimulated saliva was collected for 5 min in graduated test tubes fitted with a funnel while mean salivary flow rates were calculated. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 17.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: In the present study, differences between mean unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rates with TENS were found to be statistically significant for both genders (P < 0.001). Furthermore, in relation to age groups included, maximum increase in salivary flow rate was seen in 20–29 years of age group, though significant results were seen in all three age groups included namely 20–29 years, 30–39 years, and 40–49 years (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Based on results from the present study, it could be concluded that TENS comes out to be a safer, nonpharmacological therapeutic option for treating patients with xerostomia.

Key-words:

Saliva - salivary glands - transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation - xerostomia

Full Text

References

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