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Addressing the Gag Reflex: A Literature Review
This article was originally published by Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd. and was migrated to Scientific Scholar after the change of Publisher.
How to cite this article: Pisulkar SK, Agrawal R, Godbole SR, Jadhav V. Addressing the Gag Reflex: A Literature Review. Int J Recent Surg Med Sci 2018;4(1):2-4.
Abstract
Gagging is an involuntary protective reflex. Some patients have an extremely low threshold for the gag reflex. A severe gag reflex can be a big obstacle in certain dental procedures especially during the making of a maxillary impression. Many dental patients avoid going to the dentist because of an abnormally severe gag reflex. Treating such group of patients can be stressful and a time-consuming experience, both for the dentist and for the patient. The main aim of this article is to understand the etiology and effective management of such patients for a stress-free and fruitful clinical practice.
Keywords
Gagging
Management
Neurophysiology of gagging
Severity index
INTRODUCTION
Making a maxillary impression can be the worst 45 seconds of life for both the patient and the dentist due to gagging. A severe gag reflex can be a big obstacle in certain procedures, as it prevents the patients from seeking regular oral health care services comfortably. Gagging is a normal, physiological, defense reflex mechanism that prevents entry of foreign bodies into the trachea, pharynx, or larynx.1 If foreign body enters the trachea, pharynx, or larynx, then involuntary contraction of the muscles of soft palate or the pharynx results, which leads to retching.
In retching, peristalsis becomes uncoordinated, spasmodic, and reversed in direction. As air is forced over the closed glottis, characteristic retching sound is produced. This reflex is perfectly a natural part of our body's self-defense mechanism, as it prevents something from entering the throat that prevents choking except as part of normal swallowing.2
ETIOLOGY
The etiology of hyperactive gagging is listed in Table 1.3
| Local factors | Medical factors | Social factors | Psychological factors | Iatrogenic factors | Prosthetic factors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nasal obstruction | Chronic gastritis | Hypersensitivity due to heavy smoking | Fear | Suction and water tubes | Poor retention of dentures |
| Deviated nasal septum | Stomach carcinoma | Chronic alcoholism | Stress | Instrumentation | Surface finish of dentures |
| Nasal polyps and congestion | Peptic ulceration | Learned responses | Radiography | Overextended and improperly extended dentures |
NEUROPHYSIOLOGY OF GAGGING
The origin of gagging can be somatic or psychogenic. Somatic gagging is initiated by sensory nerve stimulation from direct contact of trigger area. Although trigger areas are specific to individuals, sites, such as certain parts of the palate and the lateral borders of the tongue commonly elicit the gag reflex. Psychogenic gagging controlled by higher centers of the brain is induced without direct contact. The sound, smell, sight, or even the thought of dental treatment can be enough to initiate the gag reflex in some individuals. These receptors are located on the posterior third of the tongue or the soft palate, and are subsequently conveyed by the sensory neuron via afferent (toward the brain) nerves to the gag center located in the medulla oblongata (lower portion of the brain). Then, from this center, motor neurons via efferent (away from the brain) nerve fibers are conveyed to the throat muscles that are involved in gagging (Fig. 1).2
- Neurophysiology of gagging
ASSESSMENT OF GAGGING
Dickinson and Fiske gagging severity index is listed in Table 2.1
| Grade | Severity |
|---|---|
| I | Normal gagging; very mild, occasional, and controlled by the patient |
| II | Mild gagging; control is acquired by the patient with reassurance from the dental team |
| III | Moderate gagging; consistent and limits treatment options |
| IV | Severe gagging; occurs with all forms of treatment, including simple visual examination |
| V | Very severe gagging; affecting patient behavior and dental attendance and making treatment impossible |
MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES
Behavior modification
Desensitization
Conditioning prosthesis
Pharmacological methods
Acupuncture and acupressure
-
Miscellaneous methods:
– Reduction of palatal coverage of maxillary denture
– Hypnosis
– Friedman's method
Behavioral Modification
Relaxation can help ameliorate the memory of treatments performed. An example of this is by asking the patient to relax and tense certain muscle, starting from legs and working upward, while reassuring the patient continuously in a calm atmosphere.2
Distraction
Interaction with the patient can be useful, or instruct the patient to concentrate on breathing, i.e., inhaling through nose and exhaling through mouth.
The process of “distraction imagery” should be practiced in which the clinician verbally explains the process being performed with a feeling of well-being.2
Desensitization
This technique consists of exposing the patient to the feared stimulus in a way that the frequency, intensity, and duration of the noxious stimulus are slowly increased, thereby making the patient to slowly habituate to the procedure to be performed.2
Singer's Marble technique4 is an effective way of desensitization for treating hopeless gaggers. In this technique, no oral examination of any kind was made at the first office visit. The patient was told to put five glass, round, multicolored marbles, 0.5 inch in diameter approximately, one by one, until all the five marbles were in his mouth.
The patient was assured that if he swallowed a marble, it could not harm him as the fear of swallowing a foreign object could induce the gagging. Simultaneously, during each weekly visit, continual assurance that he would be able to wear dentures was given to the patient. The patient was urged to continuously keep the five marbles in his mouth for 1 week, except when eating and sleeping. In the second visit, the patient was able to tolerate the five marbles and was reassured that he would be able to wear dentures, which further fortifies motivation. In the third and fourth visits, the hard palate, the soft palate, the cheeks, the lips, and the tongue were swabbed with topical anesthetics before impression making was attempted. The patient was advised to keep three marbles in his mouth.
Conditioning Prosthesis
A conditioning denture controls gagging very effectively. The conditioning prosthesis is similar to an orthodontic appliance (Hawley's) that consists of palatal alveolar prosthesis fabricated in acrylic resin. This appliance must be worn continuously for 1 week followed by an interval of 1 week for absolute adaptation.5-7
Pharmacological Treatment
Local anesthetics: The application of local anesthetics has shown to reduce gag reflex. A variety of agents to be applied are available in the form of gels, lozenges, mouth rinses, sprays, or injection. Topical lidocaine can be applied with a cotton roll on palate and back of the tongue.8
Conscious sedation: The sedation medications help the patient achieve a total state of relaxation. It enables clinician to work comfortably and the patient has little memory of the appointment.9
General anesthesia: Though general anesthesia is not much advised on a regular basis, it can be considered in patients who do not respond to any form of sedation or behavioral therapy.
Acupuncture and Acupressure
Acupuncture of point pericardium 6 located on the forearm and conception vessel 24 located on the chin can moderate the gag reflex in the majority of patients who are unable to accept an upper alginate impression, and sufficiently well to allow dental treatment to be carried out. This technique is quick, safe, inexpensive, relatively noninvasive, and little additional time is required.1,10
Miscellaneous Methods
Reduction of palatal coverage of maxillary denture. The size of maxillary denture can be decreased to a U-shaped border situated 10 mm from the dental arch approximately. The reduction in the size of the denture influences their sense of taste positively, and gagging is reduced surprisingly.7
Hypnosis provides the clinician with a set of techniques, which may be used to augment or facilitate a particular course of treatment. The success of this technique is dependent highly upon the strength of the operator's conviction.2,11
Friedman's technique: Friedman reported that with some gagging patients, common table salt can minimize the reflex. Salt may help gagging patients tolerate complete dentures when placed in liberal amounts on the palatal region of the denture or on the tongue.12
SUMMARY
A strong potential for compromised treatment is the most serious consequence associated in patients with hyperactive gag reflex. A complete oral examination, medical history, and conversation with the patient are important sources of information that assist with the management of gagging problems. Exaggerated gag reflex can be controlled by numerous available techniques and the same technique may not solve every patient's problem. The cause or causes involved should dictate the technique or techniques used.
Source of support:
Nil
Conflict of interest
None.
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