One of the most dreaded experiences a gagger can have is dental impressions.
There are many patients out there that find impressions or even x-rays and an exam a horrible experience. Just putting anything foreign in their mouth initiates an immediate gag response; something totally out of their control.
Very often, this gag reflex, and the fear of it, keeps patients from receiving all of the dental care they want and need. Well, we can help. There are several techniques that can be used to assist even the most severe gagger in accomplishing their dental goals.
Today we treated our good friend and patient, Ed. Ed is a terrible gagger. Just mention impressions while he is in the elevator and the gagging begins. Our goal today was to get impressions of implants in his upper jaw. We had no choice; either get impressions or the implants were done for naught.
Using topical anesthetic on his palate prior to taking the impression, Nitrous Oxide to help control his gagging and hypnotism techniques (not really putting him into a trance of any kind but rather using a monotone voice with consistent instruction) helped get Ed through impressions without so much as a moan. Truly a terrific experience for all concerned.
If you too are a gagger, ask your dentist to work with you and you too can have the dentistry you want and probably need.
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