title: Autonomic nervous activity of patients with gagging problems during dental mirror insertion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate autonomic nervous activities in patients with gagging problem.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were 12 and 12 individuals, graded as Group G2 (mild gagging problem) and Group G3 (middle gagging problem), respectively, according to the Classification of Gagging Problem index (CGP) and compared with 15 normal patients. Heart rate (HR), low-frequency/high-frequency ratio (L/H), the coefficient of component variation for high frequency (CCVHF), and the coefficient of variation of R-R intervals (CVRR) were assessed by heart rate variability on electrocardiogram. The measurement was recorded continuously for 1 min before and after dental mirror insertion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The insertion did not affect HR, L/H, CCVH, and CVRR in Group G2. HR did not change despite both increases in L/H and CCVHF after the insertion in Group G3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with a gagging problem in G3, dental mirror insertion increased both parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous activities, despite no change in HR.
authors.affiliation: Department Dental Anesthesiology, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Toyoaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.affiliation: Department Dental Anesthesiology, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Ken-Ichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.affiliation: Department Dental Anesthesiology, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saita
authors.affiliation: Department Dental Anesthesiology, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koukita
authors.affiliation: Department Oral Health and Clinical Science, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Shuichirou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.affiliation: College of Engineering Yokohama National University, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Jun-Ichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koizumi
authors.affiliation: Department Dental Anesthesiology, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Tatuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ichinohe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003729:Dental Care; D003762:Dental Instruments; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005683:Gagging / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
keywords: autonomic nervous activity; dental treatment; gag reflex; gagging problems; heart rate variability