Prevalence of Gag Reflex among Patients of Different Prosthodontic Treatment Modalities

Abstract

Background: Gag reflex is a common clinical challenge encountered during prosthodontic procedures. Its frequency and severity may vary with the type of prosthodontic modality and patient-related factors. The gag reflex is a protective neuromuscular response that prevents foreign objects from entering the pharynx, larynx, and airway. The reflex can vary widely among patients, from mild discomfort to severe retching, and may be influenced by mechanical, psychological, or systemic factors. In prosthodontics, removable partial dentures (RPDs) and complete dentures (CDs) are more frequently associated with gag episodes due to greater palatal coverage and potential movement of prosthetic components, whereas fixed partial dentures (FPDs) may provoke the reflex primarily during impressions of the posterior arch. Female patients have also been reported to exhibit increased reflex sensitivity, potentially due to anatomical or psychogenic differences. Understanding the etiology, patient-specific risk factors, and mechanisms of the gag reflex is essential for designing effective management strategies and ensuring successful prosthodontic treatment outcomes. This study shows the gag reflux among different prosthodontic patients. Aim: To compare the prevalence of gag reflex among patients undergoing treatment with fixed partial dentures (FPD), removable partial dentures (RPD), complete dentures (CD), and implant-supported prostheses. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 100 patients requiring prosthodontic treatment. Group distribution was: FPD = 20, RPD = 40, CD = 26, Implants = 14. Gender distribution: 56 females and 44 males. Age of the patients were between 18 to 70 years. These patients were reported to the department of prosthodontics during September 2025. Data on occurrence and perceived severity of gag reflex were collected using a structured questionnaire and direct observation during procedures. Descriptive statistics were used to report frequencies and percentages. Where possible, chi-square testing was planned for categorical comparisons (p < 0.05 considered significant). Results: Among the 100 patients studied, removable partial denture (RPD) patients experienced the highest frequency of gag reflex during procedures. Female patients (56%) reported a higher proportion of gag-related discomfort compared with male patients (44%). There were also very few patients who did not have any gag reflux during any procedure. Exact per-group counts of 'gag present' vs 'absent' were not provided in detail; hence inferential statistics (chi-square p-values) are not reported in this manuscript version. Conclusion: In this sample, RPD patients demonstrated the highest tendency to experience gag reflex during prosthodontic procedures. Also female patients had more gag reflux compared to male patients. Irrespective of the age everyone had gag reflux issue. Clinical attention to impression technique, patient reassurance, and gag-management strategies is recommended for RPD patients. Future work should record per-group presence/absence counts and severity scores to allow formal hypothesis testing.