SEHER YILDIZ BURCU AŞIK ÖZGÜN YUSUF ÖZYILMAZ
Necmettin Erbakan University Dental Journal - 2024;6(1):108-118
The gag reflex is a mechanism that prevents unwanted objects from entering the pharynx, larynx or trachea. For some reasons, the mechanism of this reflex may be impaired and may negatively affect individuals’ oral health behaviour and oral health. An abnormal gag reflex is a negative condition that can make it difficult for people to be included in society or to be comfortable in social environments and can lead to oral and dental health/aesthetic problems caused by the person’s behaviour of avoiding treatment. Therefore, the person enters into a vicious cycle of avoiding simple treatments due to excessive gag reflex, experiencing more serious dental problems in the future and withdrawing from social environments due to these dental problems. This reflex can be induced by physical or psychological stimuli. It is thought that local and systemic disorders, anatomical factors, psychological factors (classical and operant conditioning) and iatrogenic factors play an important role in the etiology of the gag reflex. Excessive gag reflex can be found in patients of all ages from paediatric to adult patients and its severity varies from person to person. Many methods have been found in its treatment, some of which can be applied by everyone and some of which require training. Considering that the cause is multifactorial, various treatment methods may need to be tried.
