Evaluation of the effect of Elaeagnus angustifolia drug film on gag reflex

Introduction: Gag reflex is one of the most common problems during dental procedures, especially during radiography and impression taking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Elaeagnus angustifolia drug film on gag reflex. Materials and methods: One hundred patients referring to the Radiology Department of Isfahan School of Dentistry were selected for the purpose of this double-blind clinical trial and randomly divided into two groups. The gag reflex was provoked and then in 50 patients, medication A (placebo) and in 50 others medication B containing Elaeagnus angustifolia were placed for 3 minutes in zones which were trigger zones for the gag reflex. Then the patients’ gag reflex was evaluated again. Data was analyzed with Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney and chi-squared tests (α=0.05).Results: In group A (placebo), frequency of distribution of gag reflex in the soft palate, tonsils and tongue were not significantly different before and after drug use. However, in group B, frequency of distribution of gag reflex exhibited significant differences in the tonsils (p value < 0.001) and soft palate (p value < 0.003) after drug application. In addition, there were no significant differences in sex distribution between the two groups.Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that a thin film of a medication containing Elaeagnus angustifolia has a positive effect on gag reflex in the tonsil and soft palate areas, and it can be used during dental procedures such as radiography procedures. Key words: Gagging, Drug, Placebo, Radiography.