Abstract
Aims
No studies are available in paediatric samples evaluating gagging during toothbrushing, radiographic and/or intraoral photographic examinations. The aims were to collectively examine potential factors associated with gagging during radiographs and intraoral photographs in 4–12-year-old children.
Methods
Parents/guardians of 395 children (aged 4–12 years old) completed questionnaires asking about their children’s toothbrushing habits. Children completed Greek versions of the Gagging Assessment Scale (GAS) and the Children’s Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS), while the dentist used the shorter version of the Gagging Problem Assessment (GPA-de-c/SF) to objectively assess gagging. X-ray and Photo Rating Scales were created to evaluate gagging during X-rays and photographs, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between the potential factors and gagging.
Results
59 of 275 patients (21%) and 56 of 276 patients (20%) who needed X-rays and intraoral photographs, respectively, gagged. Children who gagged during X-rays had significantly higher GAS scores (p = 0.007). Boys, younger children, and those who gagged on GPA-de-c/SF were more likely to gag during X-rays, and children who gagged on GPA-de-c/SF were more likely to gag during photographs. Brushing habits were not related to dental fear or gagging.
Conclusion
Of the variables which we studied, GPA-de-c/SF most strongly affected the odds of gagging during taking radiographs and/or intraoral photographs.
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The authors would like to thank all of the children and their families who participated in this research.
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MK conceived of the presented idea, gathered the material, entered the data, analyzed the data and performed the calculations with the help of TC, and wrote the manuscript with support of TC and KA. NK, GS, and KA encouraged MK to investigate gagging and its association to dental fear in children and developed the theoretical formalism. KA supervised the findings of this work. All authors discussed the results and contributed to the final manuscript.
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Katsouda, M., Coolidge, T., Simos, G. et al. Factors associated with gagging during radiographic and intraoral photographic examinations in 4–12-year-old children. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent 22, 129–137 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40368-020-00535-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40368-020-00535-9