Effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) on salivary flow in healthy adults

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is a method used for enhancing suprahyoid muscle activity and is widely applied as a treatment for dysphagia. Patients often complain of saliva pooling in the pharynx during NMES. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in salivary flow during NMES. Twenty healthy adults participated in this study. Electrical stimulation was applied at constant strength for 60 minutes to the suprahyoid muscles using VitalStim®. Participants were examined under three conditions of NMES: sensory threshold plus 75% of the difference between sensory and pain thresholds (75% Stim), SensoryStim, and Sham. Saliva collections, using a 10-min spitting method, were performed seven times: before stimulation (S1), during stimulation (S2-S6), and 5 min after stimulation ended (S7). Significant differences were observed in saliva flow between S1 and S7, as well as S2 and S7 in 75% Stim. This study indicates that an increase in saliva flow was promoted after NMES. Therefore, NMES may have effects on patients with xerostomia

The Device of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Sheet for Trismus Caused by Bilateral Mandible Fractures

Trismus is commonly caused by temporomandibular joint disorders and maxillofacial fractures. We report the case of a 62-year-old woman with trismus and difficulty in mastication caused by bilateral mandibular fractures. She had a maximal interincisal opening distance (MID) of 22 mm. Mouth-opening training was administered using a novel dental mouth-training device custom-made using ethylene vinyl acetate sheets and according to the dentition and extent of mouth-opening of the patient. After 2 months of training, the MID increased to 42 mm. With adequate training, this device is effective in treating trismus due to scarring