Management of gagging patient during intra–oral posterior region radiography

The aim of this study is to determine the relation of gag reflex with sex of the patient and the region of the radiograph during intra–oral radiographic technique. The study also shows the difference in the management of gagger patient by the radiologist than the dental student as operator. A sample of 115 students from College of Dentistry, University of Mosul; their ages 20–26 years were examined radiographically for their wisdom teeth condition. The females show higher incidence of gag reflex than males and in the maxillary region than the mandibular one. The right side of the patient shows high percentage of gag reflex than the left side. The results also reveal that the management of the radiologist to the gagger patient (by experience and several technical and instruction steps) shows successful results in resolving the gagging problem (96.2%).