title: Demographic profile, plaque index and DMFT scores of young individuals with dental anxiety and exaggerated gag reflex.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterise demographic and clinical parameters among individuals with dental anxiety and exaggerated gag reflex compared to a control group and to analyse the associations between the various parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-eight patients with dental anxiety and 54 patients with exaggerated gag reflex were compared to a control group of 200 individuals undergoing dental treatment. The collected data included demographic parameters, health status, smoking habits, Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth (DMFT) and plaque index (PI) scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PI was significantly higher among patients with exaggerated gag reflex (1.91 ± 0.95) and dental anxiety patients (1.82 ± 0.89) compared to the control group (1.27 ± 0.74; P < 0.001). DMFT was significantly higher among patients with dental anxiety (13.64 ± 7.57) compared to patients with exaggerated gag reflex (10.52 ± 5.42; P = 0.033), and between both groups compared to the control group (4.09 ± 4.034; P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that PI, DMFT and age were positively associated with exaggerated gag reflex and that DMFT and educational level were positively associated with dental anxiety compared to the control group. DMFT was the only significant parameter positively associated with dental anxiety compared to exaggerated gag reflex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DMFT and PI scores were higher among patients with dental anxiety and exaggerated gag reflex. Clinicians should consider additional oral hygiene measures and education, maintenance meetings and recall visits in those patients, as well as using supplementary aids, such as fluoride mouthwash and fluoride varnish applications, to maintain oral hygiene without triggering the exaggerated gag reflex.
authors.forename: Galit
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Almoznino
authors.forename: Avraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zini
authors.forename: Doron J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Aframian
authors.forename: Eliezer
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lvovsky
authors.forename: Avraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hadad
authors.forename: Liran
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Levin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D004245:DMF Index; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005683:Gagging / Q000502:physiology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D012907:Smoking; D055815:Young Adult