Gag reflex management in dental practice: a bibliometric analysis from 2000 to 2025.

Many people experience a strong gag reflex during dental visits, which can make procedures like taking impressions uncomfortable or even impossible. This reaction sometimes causes patients to avoid dental care altogether. Researchers analyzed 25 years of studies (2000-2025) on managing the gag reflex to understand what treatments work best and where more research is needed. They examined 47 studies from countries including Japan, Iran, India, the USA, and Turkey. The research found that dentists use two main approaches: medications like lidocaine and sedatives for quick relief, and non-drug methods including acupuncture, acupressure, and electrical nerve stimulation. About three-quarters of studies focused on reducing nausea and vomiting during dental procedures. Acupuncture and acupressure emerged as increasingly popular non-drug options, particularly in Asian countries and Japan. Most studies focused on adults undergoing tooth extractions, restorations, and impression-taking. The analysis revealed important gaps in current research: most studies were small-scale with limited follow-up periods, and very few included children or adolescents. The researchers concluded that while both medication and acupuncture-based approaches show promise for managing the gag reflex, larger studies with standardized measurement tools are needed to determine which treatments work best for different patients. For patients considering acupuncture to manage their gag reflex during dental procedures, these findings suggest it may be a viable non-pharmaceutical option worth discussing with your dentist and a qualified, licensed acupuncturist.

This bibliometric analysis examined gag reflex management in dentistry from 2000-2025, identifying 47 studies with 4.68% annual growth. Publications originated primarily from Japan, Iran, India, USA, and Turkey. Study designs included randomized controlled trials (46.81%) and case reports (46.81%), predominantly involving adults (80.85%) undergoing extractions (38.30%), restorations (31.91%), and impressions (14.89%). Interventions addressed nausea and vomiting (74.47%) through pharmacological agents (lidocaine, propofol, midazolam) and non-pharmacological modalities including acupuncture, acupressure, and TENS. Significant regional variations emerged between Asian and non-Asian approaches regarding study design, demographics, and intervention selection. Clinical limitations include small sample sizes, inadequate follow-up periods, and underrepresentation of pediatric populations. The analysis indicates growing adoption of acupuncture and laser stimulation as adjunctive therapies, particularly in Asian contexts. Practitioners should consider integrating evidence-based non-pharmacological approaches while recognizing the need for standardized outcome measures and larger-scale trials to establish optimal protocols for diverse patient populations.