Clinical Application of a New Relaxation Method to Control the Gag Reflex during Dental Treatment

• Project/Area Number: 17K12062
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Social dentistry
• Research Institution: The Nippon Dental University
• Principal Investigator: Okamoto Ayuko 日本歯科大学, 生命歯学部, 助教 (20779920)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 苅部 洋行 日本歯科大学, 生命歯学部, 教授 (50234000)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2022)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,680,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,080,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥2,600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥600,000)
• Keywords: 嘔吐反射 / 歯科不安 / 嗅覚刺激 / 触覚刺激 / つぼ刺激

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Many pediatric patients show discomfort, such as the gag reflex, due to oral stimulation during dental treatment, and this is a factor that interferes with safe and smooth dental treatment. Trauma caused by vomiting during dental treatment may lead to avoidance of dental visits and maladaptive behavior during dental treatment. In this study, we decided to develop a new relaxation method to suppress the gag reflex during dental treatment, which can be easily administered at the chairside. The results showed that olfactory stimulation with aromatherapy was effective in suppressing the gag reflex.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

小児患者にとって歯科治療は大きなストレスとなり、恐怖や不安を増大させる原因となる。歯科治療時の口腔内への刺激により嘔吐反射などの不快感を示す小児患者は非常に多く、安全で円滑な歯科治療を妨げる一因となっている。小児歯科治療の質を向上させるためには、嘔吐反射をいかにコントロールするかを検討することが最重要課題である。
嘔吐反射への対応には、抗不安薬を中心とした薬物療法、笑気吸入鎮静法や静脈内鎮静法などの鎮静法が挙げられるが、薬の副作用や鎮静後の回復時間などを考慮する必要が生じるため、チェアサイドで簡便に行え小児にも安全に使用できる新たな対応法を開発することが必要である。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Reliability, validity, and sex differences in a quantitative gag reflex measurement method. (2018)
  • Author(s): Karibe H, Okamoto A, Kato Y, Shimazu K, Goddard G.
  • Journal Title: J Oral Rehabil. Volume: 45 Issue: 10 Pages: 798-804
  • DOI: 10.1111/joor.12687
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Effect of Aromatherapy on the Gag Reflex (2022)
  • Author(s): Okamoto A, Karibe H, Kato Y, Kawakami T, Tanaka S, Okamoto Y, Goddard G.
  • Organizer: 100th General Session & Exhibition of the IADR
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] 歯科治療中の嘔吐反射に対するアロマセラピーの効果 (2022)
  • Author(s): 岡本亜祐子，苅部洋行，田中聖至，加藤雄一，河上智美，岡本 豊
  • Organizer: 第50回日本歯科麻酔学会
• [Presentation] アロマセラピーによる歯科診療時の嘔吐反射への対応 (2022)
  • Author(s): 岡本亜祐子，苅部洋行
  • Organizer: 日本小児歯科学会第37回関東地方会大会
• [Presentation] Reliability and autonomic responses of a novel gag reflex measurement, (2018)
  • Author(s): Okamoto A, Kato Y, Shimazu K, Karibe H, Goddard G.
  • Organizer: 96 th General Session and Exhibition of the IADR
  • Int'l Joint Research