Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for pain management during cavity preparations in pediatric patients.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) in pain reduction during cavity preparations in pediatric patients. Twenty patients, ages eight to fourteen years, were treated for Class I amalgam restorations in mandibular first permanent molars using TENS in a double blind protocol. Randomized assignments were made for ten experimental and ten control patients. Using the visual analogue scale, the ANOVA test indicated a significant decrease (p < 0.01) in patient ratings between the TENS experimental and the control group. It can be concluded there was a statistically significant decrease in the pain perceptions of pediatric patients during Class I amalgam cavity preparations in mandibular first permanent molars.