Effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on pain perception threshold and pain tolerance level of human teeth subjected to electrical stimulation

Abstract

The effect of low current, sub‐sensation transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on pain threshold and pain tolerance level of human teeth subjected to stimulation with an electrical pulp tester was studied. Electrodes were attached to the patients via a patch between the thumb and first finger and a damp cotton roll in the vestibule over the apex of the tooth to be tested. No significant differences between the values for the baseline, experimental and placebo pain perception thresholds were found. Nor were significant differences found between the average experimental and placebo values concerning pain tolerance level. However, in 1 individual the pain tolerance level was not reached at the highest level of stimulation from the electrical pulp tester.

Effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on pain perception threshold of human teeth: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study

“…Even Ihalainen et al [16] obtained a mean rise of about 50% in pain thresholds using 100 Hz and 2 Hz frequencies, respectively. On the other hand, Rooney and Tronstad [23] conducted a study on the effect of low current TENS (frequencies between 12 and 20 kHz) on pain perception thresholds of different teeth and reported that TENS did not significantly influence them, a finding also supported by Cameron et al [8].…”

“…Using polishing paste as contact medium [23], the tip of the pulp tester was applied to the incisal edge of the teeth, with care being taken to place the tip in the same position each time [23]. Stimulus intensity was increased automatically while the tip of the tester was in contact with the tooth and switched off as soon as the individual being tested was first aware of sensation from the tooth.…”

“…Meanwhile, several authors reported an increase in pain thresholds of human teeth, especially when high frequency TENS was used [3,11,16,24,25,29]. In contrast, other authors stated that TENS has no consistent effect in altering dental pain thresholds [8,23]. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of different TENS devices and two different types of electrodes on the pain perception thresholds of human teeth subjected to stimulation with an electric pulp tester.…”

“…In order to evaluate the potential of different TENS stimulations to produce local anesthesia of the tooth pulp, the effect of TENS on the perception of pain in human teeth has been investigated by several authors [3,4,8,9,11,16,23,29], however there is no general agreement concerning the assessment of the efficiency of TENS on pain perception. Meanwhile, several authors reported an increase in pain thresholds of human teeth, especially when high frequency TENS was used [3,11,16,24,25,29].…”