Abstract
Aim: Saliva is necessary fluid for oral health. Medications, radiation therapy, and many systemic conditions decrease salivary function and increase patient's risk for caries and other oral infections. Palliative management of xerostomia includes wetting agents such as ice chips, increase water intake, lip balm, chewing sugarfree gums and saliva substitutes. Systemic agents stimulate salivary flow but often have unfavorable side effects. All have met with limited success. The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) as a means of stimulating salivary function in these subjects. Materials and method: This study comprised of 30 patients who are known case of diabetics, taking antidepressant, or diuretic drug, under gone radiation therapy and postmenopausal women with decrease salivary secretions. Unstimulated saliva was collected for 5 minutes in beaker and measure. The TENS electrode pads were placed externally on the skin overlying the parotid glands. The TENS unit was then activated and stimulated saliva collected for an additional 5 minutes. Results: The mean value of unstimulated saliva is 2.343which increased after stimulation 3.053 with the difference of .71 showed significant increase (p < 0.001) in the salivary secretion after TENS stimulation. There were no adverse events observed after the use of TENS. Conclusion: The present study using TENS therapy has definitely shown encouraging results in increasing salivary secretion without any side effects.
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