Background: Orofacial pain with varied etiological factors making diagnosis difficult and treatment inappropriate. Extensive research that had been performed during the last century directed towards the management of orofacial pain did not lead to a specific treatment modality. Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) is a technique of delivering electric impulses through intact skin surfaces resulting in pain relief from orofacial pain. This study was planned to compare the effectiveness of TENS on the most common types of orofacial pain i.e trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and Myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome (MPDS).

Materials and methodology:A total of 28 orofacial pain patients were categorised into TN & MPDS groups of 14 each. Each group was again subdivided into a study and control group with 7 patients each.TN study group were given low-frequency TENS with Burst mode and MPDS were given high-frequency TENS with Modulated mode.TN control group were given Carbamazepine 200mg twice daily and the MPDS control group were given a combination of Muscle relaxant medication. VAS score was used to assess pain intensity before and after treatment.

Results:On comparing pre and post-treatment periods, the mean VAS score in the TN study group reduced from 8 to 1, wherein the control group reduced from 5 to 3. Mean decrease in the frequency of attacks in the TN Study group was 20 to 3 whereas in the control group it is 15 to 11. Mean VAS scores in the study group reduced from 6 to 2, whereas in the control group it reduced from 5 to 3. On comparing study and control groups, reduction in pain intensity & reduction in the frequency of attacks in both TN and MPDS groups were found to be significant. (p<0.05).

Conclusion: TENS was proved to be effective in the management of pain in both TN and MPDS. There is a decrease in pain intensity and frequency of attacks in case of trigeminal neuralgia and an increase in ease of patient in mouth opening in case of MPDS suggesting TENS can be used as an effective & adjuvant therapy for both TN and MPDS patients.