Clinical Study on the Efficacy of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) in Patients with Xerostomia

Objective: To analyze the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on parotid glands in patients with xerostomia. Material and Methods: A simple, blinded, randomized, longitudinal, and prospective study was performed with 50 patients with xerostomia, divided into two groups; 25 patients received TENS and 25 received a sham treatment. The treatment group took part in three sessions with TENS that lasted 15 min each for three weeks. The production of saliva was measured through sialometry at the start and end of the treatment. The perception of xerostomia was assessed with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS-X) and the Xerostomia Inventory (XI), also at the beginning and the end. The impact on oral health (OHIP-14) was assessed in the first and third sessions. Results: A progressive improvement was observed after three treatment sessions. With respect to the initial VAS scores, these significantly decreased from the start (7.52 +/- 1.92) to the end (6.84 +/- 1.84; p < 0.001). The sialometry values significantly increased, showing an increase in the salivary fluid from the start to the end of the treatment (p < 0.001). With respect to the Xerostomia Inventory (XI) (Thomson), the scores decreased from the initial 36.88 +/- 7.78 to 35.60 +/- 7.42 after the sessions (p = 0.01). No significant changes were observed in the OHIP-14 in patients treated with TENS. Conclusions: The TENS therapy is presented as a promising and non-invasive alternative for the management of xerostomia, as it is able to objectively increase the salivary flow and improve the subjective perception of mouth dryness.