Oral Profile of Patients with Dental Anxiety and Gag Reflex

Methods: 68 patients with dental anxiety and 54 patients with pronounced gag reflex were compared to a control group of 200 individuals attending conservative dental treatment. Collected data included: demographic parameters, health status, smoking habits, DMFT (Decay, Missing and Filled Teeth) and Plaque index (PI) scores.

Results: PI was significantly higher among patients with pronounced gag reflex(1.91±0.946) and dental anxiety patients (1.82±0.89) compared to the control group  (1.27±0.74) (<0.001).DMFT was significantly higher among patients with dental anxiety(13.64±7.57) compared to patients with pronounced gag reflex (10.52±5.42)(p=0.033) ,and between both groups compared to the control group (4.09±4.034)(p <0.001).Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that PI (0.008),DMFT (<0.001) and age (0.002) were positively associated with pronounced gag reflex and that DMFT (<0.001) and education (p=0.001) were positively associated with dental anxiety compared to the control group. DMFT was the only significant parameter positively associated with dental anxiety compared to pronounced gag reflex (p=0.009).

Conclusions: DMFT and PI scores were higher among patients with dental anxiety and pronounced gag reflex. The clinician should consider more oral hygiene instructions, maintenance meetings and recalls in those patients as well as using additional aids to maintain oral hygiene that do not cause pronounced reflex such as fluoride mouthwash and fluoride varnish appliance.