24.1

Patients with Gag Reflex

Gagging is a strong involuntary effort to vomit, and a gag reflex is retching, which is elicited by stimulation of the sensitive tissues of the soft palate region. Areas that are most likely to elicit the gag reflex are the soft palate and the lateral posterior third of the tongue.

Two precipitating factors for the initiation of the gag reflex are the psychogenic stimuli (originating in the mind) and the tactile stimuli (originating from touch). To suppress the gag reflex, the dental radiographer must eliminate or lessen these precipitating factors. When speaking to the patient, do not ask them if they are a “gagger. and remind them to breathe through their nose and be sure to commend patients on a job well done.

For extreme cases of gag reflex, if the gag reflex is uncontrollable, the dental radiographer must use extraoral images such as panoramic or lateral jaw images to obtain diagnostic information. Topical anesthetics can be applied to the throat area to numb it temporarily.