%0 Journal Article
%T The Effect of Various Concentrations of Nitrous Oxide and Oxygen on the Hypersensitive Gag Reflex
%A Andre Mickel
%A Anita Aminoshariae
%A Candace K. E. De Veaux
%A Masahiro Heima
%A Thomas A. Montagnese
%J Archive of "Anesthesia Progress".
%D 2016
%R 10.2344/15-00039.1
%X The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of various concentrations of N2O/O2 on obtunding a hypersensitive gag reflex. We hypothesized that the administration of nitrous oxide and oxygen would obtund a hypersensitive gag reflex enough to allow a patient to tolerate the placement and holding of a digital x-ray sensor long enough to obtain a dental radiograph. Volunteers claiming to have a hypersensitive gag reflex were first screened to validate their claim and then tested by placing a size 2 digital x-ray sensor in the position for a periapical radiograph of the right mandibular molar area and holding it in place for 10 seconds. Subjects were first tested using room air only, then 30%, 50%, or 70% nitrous oxide until they were able to tolerate the sensor without gagging or discomfort. A visual analog scale was used for subjective responses, and other statistical tests were used to analyze the results. We found that for some subjects, 30% nitrous oxide was sufficient; for others, 50% was needed; and for the remainder of the subjects, 70% was sufficient to tolerate the test. Using a combination of 70% nitrous oxide and 30% oxygen allowed all patients claiming to have a hypersensitive gag reflex to tolerate the placement and holding of a digital x-ray sensor long enough to take a periapical radiograph
%K Gag reflex
%K Hypersensitive gag reflex
%K Dental radiographs
%K Nitrous oxide and oxygen
%U https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5157143/