Gag Reflexes and Dentist Appointments HELP!

[lilmissdisney216]

Hi all I know I post alot here on the disABILITIES board but since you guys give me some good starting points/advice/and info I keep coming back. I have another question to ask because I want to make sure all goes smoothly (if possible)

Darling Boyfriend (who as of a month or so ago is now Darling Fiance yay!!!! *happy dance*) has a dentist appointment in Feb. and is extremely scared from my understanding. He tells me that one of the reasons that he doesn't tolerate going to the dentist for anything is that he has a really bad gag reflex. Its soo bad to the point where he'll brush his teeth and he can't get through it without gaging or coming close to vomiting. He's worried about this for his appointment and I wanted to know what advice you could give him/us. I want to make sure that he'll be as comfortable as possible and not afraid/embarased.

Has anyone experienced this or known someone who has. If so, how did you handle it (either at home or at the dentist). Any information you, my fellow DISers, would have would be just awesome (I'm also studying this stuff also for my dental assistant training) Thanks so much in advance.

Pixie Dust
Meredith

 

[Cheshire Figment]

He might look into going to a sedation dentist, if there is one in the area.

 

[DisDreaminMom]

That's what I was going to suggest. If he can't find one, then maybe ask his doctor for a Valium or two and you drive him to his appointment. From what I understand, a gag reflex is voluntary, so if he isn't thinking about it, it shouldn't trigger it. I think the body does it as a fear of choking response. I noticed that my DS did not have his normal gag reflex when the dentist used laughing gas, and my son will puke in a heartbeat (like, "Oh-an onion in my food!" -barf-and then go right on eating as if nothing happened).

 

[lilmissdisney216]

Do any of you think that he would benefit from being gased during his appointment. From what I was told he's going in for a cleaning and I think that's all they're going to do (he hasn't been there in a year so you never really know).

 

[quasar4legs]

Congrats on the engaement.

I gag non-stop at the dentist but have found a few things have really helped. My dentist tries to keep the chair a little more upright than he normally does for other patients. The further back I lay down the more I gag.
If I am having work done I find the gas makes a big difference, I don't think about gagging as I am enjoying..........the gas.
Maybe using an ipod with his favourite music might help because the more you think about it the worse it gets.

Hope things go OK.
Trish

 

[BeckyScott]

Our old dentist also had a flip-down computer monitor in the room. They could put in a DVD and move the monitor close enough to see. That, combined with the gas, made my older DS happy as a clam. His only complaint was that the gas mask would get in the way of his viewing, since he was tipped back, it was hard to find a good angle for the gas mask, the monitor, and the dentist still able to get in there to work.

 

[SandrainNC]

I have a pretty bad gag reflex myself. One thing they do for me is let me hold the "suction thingy". They get to working and don't suction often enough and that causes me to gag. So I hold it and when I need suctioned, I do it myself. I have also considered switching to a place that does sedation dentistry but haven't so far. They had to do x-rays this past visit and I thought I wasn't gonna make it! But I did. Thank goodness.

Sandra

 

[PrincessKsMom]

DD has a bad gag reflex as well. Unfortunately, the worst time for her at the dentist is while having her teeth cleaned. She can't stand the taste of the flouride. In the past my dentist would put the flouride (almost like a paste) on a rototating brush and literally brush each tooth with it. It would take forever and she'd gag and choke the whole time. This last visit he applied the flouride almost like a power wash at the car wash. It was much quicker and didn't taste as strong. Seemed to have worked well with DD.

 

[Brer Shay]

DS is like this - gags pretty much every time we go to the dentist. Tell the dentist up front so they can do what they can to help and try some type of distraction - an MP3 player can be helpful.

 

[lilmissdisney216]

He's told me that when he usually visits the dentist that they give him headphones and they let him bring in his favorite c/d's of his choosing to listen to while he's in the chair but he told me that it doesn't make much of a difference to him he still gags.

I'm thinking about maybe talking to him about seeing if they would gas him while he's having his teeth cleaned. Usually they gas him when he's having extensive work done (i.e. a filling and the like) but it couldn't hurt to ask if they would do it for a cleaning. Hopefully they can get him relatively comfortable to the point where there is very minimal gagging and possibilities for vomiting.

 

[2littleprincesses28]

I am a dental hygienist and work on people everyday with bad gag reflexes...somethings that I do that helps some is...when they are having xras done have them hold one leg in the air and they can't let it drop until I tell them. Breathing through the nose is a huge one. Really trying to relax as much as he can is also huge(bring headphones) I let them hold the suction and try to put the chair a little more upright.
I also work very fast and try very hard not to touch the tongue and leave my mirror out as much as possible. Your dental office deals with this everyday they will have suggestions...as far as "gas" if you are thinking he might want it for a cleaning call ahead and let them know so they can have it set up. Gagging is no fun(for anyone) it is a phsyical response as well as pschyological one....he's got him self worring about gagging so it makes it hard to think about something else in that situation...the more you think about it the easier the gag repsponse is. Good luck to your fiance....also one suggestion that if it's reall bad that day maybe they could do 2 appointments cleaning only 1/2 per visit...of course that means he would have to go back!

 

[lilmissdisney216]

Just an update on how the appointment went.

DF went in this past Friday for his cleaning and he did really well. He only gagged moderately when they took the X- Rays on the back teeth. Afterwards he did pretty well when his hygenist started the cleaning. Gave him my I-Pod and he was relaxed for the rest of the appointment.

However we have to make a follow up visit in 2 or 3 weeks (those little things called cavities have come a knockin and one of them is pretty deep) for fillings and some more check ups. He's made up his mind to be gassed when they fill him so that should be no problem. Will keep you all posted.

Meredith

 

[mdsouth]

Hi,

My DS12 has an awful gag reflex ever since he was born! He just went to the dentist this past week, and was finally able to get through all the X-Rays. We had tried at least three times previously but could not get it done.

The dental hygenist was fantastic! She was so patient with him and she put a little salt on his tongue. She says that she does this a lot with people who gag and for some reason it really works!

I was amazed at how quickly he was able to do it and how great she was!

We had even tried taking him to a pediatric dentist in the past with no luck. The pediatric dentist was terrible. He was rude and had little patience, I couldn't believe the poor behavior from someone that specialized in treating kids. Even his ads, and pr stressed how patient he was with kids that are nervous of the dentist! Not true!

Best of luck to everyone dealing with this problem.

 

[lilmissdisney216]

I mentioned the salt on the tongue and Ben kinda gave me the "are you crazy" look. I said hey whatever will help you. But in any case onto the update:

DBF had another appointment on the 26th of February and he did really really well. He had to go in for some fillings of some cavities in the front teeth and they ended up giving him nitrous oxide and novacaine. He was a little sick when we went into the dentist (had a sore throat and just felt a little poopy) but we kept the appointment instead of canceling because A: we were going out of town soon and didn't want to have any major problems while we were far away from home and B: he had already called them that morning to tell them that he would be there for sure. Once he was on the nitrous he was very comfortable until they shot him with the novacaine and he really didn't like that too much at all. Ended up yelling at the dentist in pain but once the injection was placed and they began the treatment, he was as good as he was before they started the gas on him. Finished up the procedure in about 45 mins to an hour, put him on the O2, he was good to go. I was so proud of him for going in and doing good.

HOWEVER, on a different foot, we learned (at that same appointment) that he would need all 4 wisdom teeth and 2 teeth that have really really deep cavaties would have to be removed. Got a referral to an oral surgeon (Who might I add is amazing. I like him and so does Ben) who will remove the top 3rd molars on both sides and then the 2 teeth that have the cavities at the back as well. The bottom two wisdoms will have to wait. DBF surgery is tomorrow morning and to my knowledge, he's having the general anesthesia. If you could keep him in your thoughts and prayers as he's a bit nervous about tomorrow that would be great. Thanks you guys so much you all are like a second family to me

Meredith