Does anyone else have a gag reflex so bad they can't get treated at the dentist?

[CTyankee]

My husband avoids the dentist at all costs because of his. He needs to go. I was wondering if there are any ways his gagging can be avoided. His current dentist (he hasn't seen him for 2 years now) has tried but husband won't go again...

[tridim]

1. Yes.

Last time I went the staff was laughing at me as I was choking.

[Stellabella]

2. Yes. Ask for a throat-numbing spray.

They really do work. And tell him to breathe HEAVILY through his nose, not his mouth, when they're working on him.

[Warpy]

13. Sprays wear off pretty quickly

and need frequent reapplication during any sort of lengthy procedure. They do work very well for short sessions in a lot of people, though.

In extreme cases, when the gag is so extreme a person is living with bad teeth for fear of activating it during dental work, there's an equally extreme remedy.

Tessalon is a medication used for scoping lungs and stomach. It totally paralyzes the gag reflex. It's a nuisance for dental work because the patient can't eat or drink for several hours (usually 4-6) until the gag reflex returns.

Suggest to the dentist that Tessalon might be the answer for a very long session in the chair, doing the work that would usually be done over several appointments.

Whatever he tries, good luck to him. I don't think there's anything more miserable than a mouth full of bad teeth.

[riqster]

3. The x-rays are the worst for me

...my new dentist has a panoramic x-ray, no films to clench between my teeth. Apart from that, novocaine can work wonders.

[Retrograde]

18. I make the x-ray tech tell me a story

The last time I couldn't keep the films in for more than 2-3 seconds without gagging. While we were waiting for me to calm down a bit, she started telling me about her holiday, and her family, and we got to talking about grandfathers. It calmed me enough that she could do the entire set.

I've tried breathing through my mouth, raising my feet, humming - they sometimes work, sometimes not. I also find holding one of the instruments - usually the suction tube - works since it makes me feel I have some sort of control.

[Frustratedlady]

4. Try impressions for dentures.

My dentist even left the room, it was so bad. There was nothing I could do.

He even asked my daughter if she inherited my gag reflex...needless to say, she was embarrassed.

Breathing deeply (panting) helps, somewhat.

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. That is indeed uncomfortable.

You feel like something is trying to clog your air passages.

Ack.

[notadmblnd]

5. Sometimes, but if they give me that gas.....

I really don't care what they do. Then it's resisting the impulse to laugh, that I have problems with.

[Mojorabbit]

11. Without gas

I don't go near a dentist. Bad experiences as a child left their mark.

[Frustratedlady]

12. Believe it or not, we had a school dentist back in the 30-50s named...are you ready?

Toothacre.

That name alone made many a child enter his office with the widest eyes you ever saw.

[bliss_eternal]

7. Lots of people...

(brief work in dental field). You'd be surprised how many people avoid x-rays, because of this.

There are numbing sprays. For the highly phobic, sometimes administering some nitrous (relaxes the patient) is helpful (even for cleanings and x-rays). Some insurances will cover (if dr. can document treatment can't take place unless the patient is sedated to a degree). Sometimes they'll cover partial. For some patients it's worth it to them, to not have to deal with the anxiety, pain, gagging, etc.

My husband used to get nitrous for his cleanings. But he's worked through his issues and goes in like a trooper now. It helped a ton that we have a hygienist that he adores (and trusts). She's very gentle. And he's now very comfortable with our dentist. But any work he get's done (fillings, etc.) he get's nitrous.

[Skittles]

8. surely there are some dentists who have treatment techniques for this

has he tried researching on the web?

[DeepBlueC]

9. anaesthetic dentistry

My dentist puts me to sleep for everything beyond cursory examination.

[abq e streeter]

10. Mine's real bad too,and breathing through my nose is definitely helpful

I have a dentist with a great, supportive staff, and they do what they can to get me through this mini-ordeal and they suggested the nose breathing... they also encourage me with reminding me "just a few more seconds" etc. and they never make me feel embarrassed about this problem and instead do what they can to calm me down which helps too.

[Ocracoker16]

14. Yes

I used to anger my dentist when I was a kid when he would try to put the X-ray films in my mouth and I would gag. My parents couldn't get me to go for awhile, because he yelled at me so much. I wasn't trying to be difficult.

Does your husband gag because he is anxious? If so, he could try to get a prescription for a benzodiazipine to take before going to the dentist. You might consider sedation dentistry if nothing else works.

[CTyankee]

15. He had sedation for an extraction but not for anything less serious.

Even the "panorama" xrays were challenged by his insurance and he had to fight for them to pay for it. It was a long battle.

I am suggesting my periodontist to him for his strong breath odor because I think it is a gum issue. My perio is a great guy, really nice and very funny. I like him a lot and I think hubby will too! But he's so freaked he can't even think about it. So I have to try very carefully....

[grasswire]

16. it wasn't so bad when they let you be slightly reclined..

...but now they want to put you flat on your back, and that's HORRIBLE.

[spotbird]

17. Salt

My dentist gives puts salt on my tongue for x-rays. The distraction seems to hold the gag reflex off long enough to get through the procedure.

[veganbeatnik]

19. Self-delete

There is a joke just begging for me to write, but I will use a modicum of restraint.:hurts:

[uppityperson]

20. troll delete. Thanks mods. That was fast.