Ultra-Low Frequency TENS as an Adjunctive Therapy for Pain Management in Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatment: A Pilot Study
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Patient Selection
- A total of 45 patients from the Preventive Service of the Dental Clinic of the University of L’Aquila, seeking non-surgical periodontal therapy, were initially enrolled based on the following inclusion and exclusion criteria:
2.2. Inclusion Criteria
2.3. Exclusion Criteria
- Patients undergoing opioid or analgesic therapies in the last month.
- Pregnant women.
- Patients with a history of epilepsy.
- Patients with implanted electronic devices (e.g., pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators).
- Patients with systemic or regional neuropathies (e.g., polyneuropathies, neuropathies associated with viral infections).
- Patients with chronic systemic degenerative diseases (e.g., multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, advanced diabetes with neuropathy).
- Patients with chronic pain conditions (e.g., fibromyalgia, chronic lower back pain, osteoarthritis, tendinitis, bursitis, chronic pelvic pain).
- Patients with pulpitis, pulpal diseases, temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), orofacial pain, periodontitis, or any other oral condition associated with oral pain.
- Patients who did not sign the informed consent form.
2.4. Study Design
- Quadrant 1 (TENS treatment): 10 min non-surgical periodontal treatment with TENS activated.
- Quadrant 4 (No TENS treatment): 10 min non-surgical periodontal treatment without TENS.
- a.
- After a 10 min break:
- 3.
- Quadrant 2 (TENS treatment): 10 min non-surgical periodontal treatment with TENS activated.
- 4.
- Quadrant 3 (No TENS treatment): 10 min non-surgical periodontal treatment without TENS.
2.5. Randomization
2.6. Sample Size Determination
2.7. Clinical Procedure
2.8. Statistical Analysis
3. Results
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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1st Scenario Group (n = 10) | 2nd Scenario Group (n = 10) | |
---|---|---|
Male (n) | 5 | 5 |
Age (mean ± SD) | 46 ± 1.6 | 50 ± 0.5 |
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Ortu, E.; Di Nicolantonio, S.; Di Felice, R.; Barone, A.; Pietropaoli, D.; Monaco, A. Ultra-Low Frequency TENS as an Adjunctive Therapy for Pain Management in Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatment: A Pilot Study. Dent. J. 2025, 13, 161. https://doi.org/10.3390/dj13040161
Ortu E, Di Nicolantonio S, Di Felice R, Barone A, Pietropaoli D, Monaco A. Ultra-Low Frequency TENS as an Adjunctive Therapy for Pain Management in Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatment: A Pilot Study. Dentistry Journal. 2025; 13(4):161. https://doi.org/10.3390/dj13040161
Chicago/Turabian StyleOrtu, Eleonora, Sara Di Nicolantonio, Roberta Di Felice, Antonella Barone, Davide Pietropaoli, and Annalisa Monaco. 2025. "Ultra-Low Frequency TENS as an Adjunctive Therapy for Pain Management in Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatment: A Pilot Study" Dentistry Journal 13, no. 4: 161. https://doi.org/10.3390/dj13040161
APA StyleOrtu, E., Di Nicolantonio, S., Di Felice, R., Barone, A., Pietropaoli, D., & Monaco, A. (2025). Ultra-Low Frequency TENS as an Adjunctive Therapy for Pain Management in Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatment: A Pilot Study. Dentistry Journal, 13(4), 161. https://doi.org/10.3390/dj13040161