Dental phobia related to gagging - can anyone help, please?!

Dental phobia related to gagging - can anyone help, please?

I have dental appointment on Monday - 8.35 a.m., which means my already over-sensitive gag reflex will be at its absolute worst. It'll be my first appointment in two years - I find the gagging so difficult to cope with that I only go to the dentist when something has got so bad that I just can't cope with it using self help measures.

If anyone out there has any tips at all on techniques for coping with this then I will be eternally grateful to hear from you!

One thing in particular I read the other day on a dental phobia forum was about controlling gagging by keeping your ankles raised throughout the treatment - sounded a bit odd but by heck, if it works....?! Anyone heard of or had any experience of this?

Not healthy, I know, and I'm not proud of myself for being like this!!! So please, no judgemental or funny-ha-ha answers, serious ones only - thanks, folks!

There are several techniques, such as raising one foot and concentrating on it. There is even a numbing throat spray that can be used that is quite effective. I've had patients hold the suction.....the one "not" being used of coarse, and that seems to help them. There are head sets with music to distract you. Occasionally there is an assistant that can talk to you, keeping you concentrating on the conversation rather than what's being done.

I believe it's the thought of not being in control of your body that bothers most patients thus causing the gag reflex. Then there are some that don't display the reflex unless the suction is placed far in the back. Talk to the dentist about this prior to starting the procedure so that they can adjust their method of suctioning or mirror/instrument placement.

So if concentrating on a foot raised, the spray, head sets or holding the suction or something else helps, then by all means use these things. What you need to remember is that we will stop anytime you feel distress or a gag coming on so that we don't hurt you with a sharp instrument or the drill. You are in control, so to speak, it's just a little more time consuming for us to stop and start and there are points of some procedures that we "can't" have the tooth get wet from you closing or it will mean starting over.

Discuss this with your dentist or the assistant prior to the initiation of the procedure so they can suggest or try different methods. I hope I've been of some help and that your dental appointment goes much better with these suggestions, also that you find something that will work so you can continue receiving preventative treatment. Good luck!