Suppression and prevention of the gag reflex with a TENS device during dental procedures.

Individuals who are prone to gagging and apprehension during dental treatments present a problem for the clinician and themselves. Patients may delay prescribed therapy or interfere with the fabrication of accurate oral impressions and diagnostic radiographs, because of this fear. The common wisdom has been to try one of the following procedures: (1) distraction of the patient, (2) forced respiration, (3) induced lagophthalmus, or (4) hypnosis. A preventive approach suggests that the sensory stimulation of the cranial nerves of the superior laryngeal nerve branch, (Cr N, IX, pharyngeal branch of X, Cr. N. V, and Cr N. X.) would block the physiologic response of gagging and retching.