Role of Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation Therapy as Adjuvant Pain Reduction in the Management of Temporomandibular Disorders

Objective: To evaluate and compare the efficacy of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) therapy and conventional pharmacologic treatment in reducing pain intensity among patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry (AFID), Rawalpindi, Pakistan from Feb to Jul 2025. Methodology: A total of 60 patients clinically diagnosed with TMD-associated pain were enrolled and divided into two equal groups. Group-A received pharmacologic therapy consisting of a combination of diclofenac potassium (50 mg), paracetamol (325 mg), and chlorzoxazone (250 mg) three times daily for five days. Group-B received two sessions of TENS therapy, each lasting 30 minutes and five days apart, along with the same medication. Pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) before and after treatment. Results: The mean pain score in Group A decreased from 5.03±0.56 to 1.10±0.48 (p<0.001), and in Group B from 5.13±0.57 to 0.97±0.56 (p<0.001). Post-treatment comparison revealed significantly greater pain reduction in the TENS group compared to the pharmacologic group (p=0.002). Conclusion: Both treatment modalities significantly alleviated TMD-associated pain; however, TENS therapy demonstrated superior pain relief, supporting its role as an effective adjunct to conventional management.