Gagging prevalence and its association with dental fear in 4-12-year-old children in a dental setting.

AIM: The aims were to determine the prevalence of gagging in children in the dental setting, detect any association between gagging and dental fear in that setting, and determine if the association varied by type of setting. DESIGN: A total of 734 children (4-12 years old), seeking dental care either at a University paediatric dental clinic (UC) or at a private paediatric practice (PP), filled out the Greek version of the Gagging Assessment Scale (GAS, subjective assessment) and the Greek version of the Children's Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS). The shorter form of the Gagging Problem Assessment-dentist part for children (GPA-de-c/SF, dentist's objective measurement) was used to assess their gag reflex. RESULTS: A total of 209 children (28.47%) gagged according to the GPA-de-c/SF. There was no significant difference in gagging between UC and PP children. Children rated as gaggers on the GPA-de-c/SF reported significantly higher GAS and CFSS-DS scores (U = 33 629.000; P < 0.001, U = 31 955.500, P < 0.001, respectively). Also, there was a significant association between GAS and CFSS-DS (rho = 0.307, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In the dental setting, there were significant relationships between dental fear, the dentist's objective measurement of gagging severity, and the child's subjective gagging assessment.

The Greek version of the Gagging Assessment Scale in children and adolescents: psychometric properties, prevalence of gagging, and the association between gagging and dental fear.

BACKGROUND: No studies assessing the association between gagging and dental fear are available in pediatric samples. AIM: To assess the psychometric properties of the Greek version of the Gagging Assessment Scale (GAS), to explore the prevalence of gagging, and to evaluate the relationship between gagging and dental fear in a pediatric sample. DESIGN: A total of 849 8- and 14-year-old children filled out a questionnaire consisting of demographic items, the Greek version of the GAS, and the Greek Children's Fear Survey Schedule Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS); the older children also completed the Greek version of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS). The short form of dentist part of the Gagging Problem Assessment (GPA-de-c/SF) was used to objectively assess gagging. RESULTS: A total of 51 children (6.0%) demonstrated gagging on the GPA-de-c/SF. Children rated as gaggers on the GPA-de-c/SF had significantly higher GAS scores. There were no relationships between GPA-de-c/SF and the CFSS-DS or MDAS. The GAS ratings were significantly correlated with the CFSS-DS (rho = 0.420, P < 0.001) and MDAS (rho = 0.429, P < 0.001). The internal consistency was good (Cronbach's alpha = 0.697). CONCLUSIONS: The GAS demonstrated good psychometric properties. Dental fear was correlated with the self-report gagging assessment, but not with the objective gagging assessment.