Role of transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) in the mandibular third molar surgery-a clinical study.

Objectives: Surgical extraction of the impacted mandibular third molar has undesirable side effects such as pain, swelling, bleeding, alveolar osteitis, and trismus. This study evaluates the efficiency of transcutaneous electronic nerve stimulation (TENS) in the control of perioperative pain and postoperative oedema & trismus after the surgical extraction of impacted mandibular 3rd molars.

Study design: A prospective, comparative, randomized, double-blind controlled clinical study was conducted on 23 patients requiring surgical extraction of bilateral impacted mandibular third molars. Each site was randomly allocated to the study site where a physio track TENS appliance was applied preoperatively, immediately postoperatively, and on the postoperative 3rd day. The assessed variables are peri and postoperative pain, postoperative oedema and trismus.

Results: The results of the present study demonstrated that preoperative and postoperative application of TENS helps in achieving good perioperative pain control, decreased facial swelling and early return to normal mouth opening.

Conclusion: Postoperative recovery following surgical extraction was better in the TENS site than in the control site; therefore, the peri and postoperative placement of TENS can be recommended for quicker recovery to function.