We have a gag reflex for good reason. It’s essential to our survival, making sure we don’t come to harm by swallowing anything dangerous. Yet there are times when it would be handy to be able to switch it off.

As part of our Smile in a Day dental implant treatment, we use mirrors and other instruments for the initial consultation, and the gag reflex can sometimes get in the way. For some patients it can be a major issue, so we have special techniques for dealing with it.

It’s not your fault

Patients can feel embarrassed, as if they’re letting me down by not being able to keep their mouth open, but that’s really not the case. These are reflexes, and by definition, you can’t control them. It’s not your fault if you gag; it’s just your body trying to look after you but being over-protective.

At TDC, we never play it down and casually tell patients to relax. Choosing to relax is extremely difficult, so instead, we offer a variety of ways to help you.

Firstly, we simply take extra care, being particularly gentle, and keeping instruments as far away from the throat as possible. Normally dentists will tell you to ‘open wide’ but if the reflex is causing you problems, we will try to work with your mouth less open, which should help.

Treatment with acupuncture

Some patients need more support though, and in these instances, we can use acupuncture. I am a trained acupuncturist. By using a needle at the crease around halfway between the bottom of the lip and the chin, you can block the gag reflex almost entirely. I will either do it with an acupuncture needle, or sometimes even just pressing with my fingernail is enough. I must add that acupuncture is practically painless. However, for those who really don’t like needles, a dab of salt on the tongue can often have the same result.

Help even in the most extreme cases

One of our patients had such a strong gag reflex that even when he was under sedation it was still there. This is extremely unusual, and may have been caused by an accident he was in when he was younger. He almost drowned, so understandably he was hypersensitive. However, even in this extreme case, we solved the problem. The anaesthetist I was working with suggested something that sounded very unlikely, but it worked perfectly. By placing a needle at a particular point in each ear, the gag reflex was completely blocked. This has been supported by scientific research, and is a technique I can now use if I ever need to.

Free consultation

So if you are interested in our Smile in a Day treatment for same-day, fixed dental implants but are at all concerned about the procedure, arrange your free consultation here and we can talk you through it all. Alternatively, call 02035536415 for a chat with one of our friendly Patient Advisors.

From Dr Anthony Zybutz

Choosing to have dental implants is a life-changing decision, and if you’re reading this, we hope you’re on the verge of selecting Total Dentalcare (TDC) as the dental team to help you through the whole process.

I have personally sat down with thousands of patients over the years to discuss the treatment, so I certainly understand all the thoughts and concerns that come up when deciding whether or not dental implants are right for you. Even once you choose to go ahead, there are further issues that can have an impact on when the work is done.

Every patient is different, but there are a few key factors that in my experience people need to be aware of. The good news is that at TDC we can help you navigate all of them.

Diabetes
Diabetes has been shown to be linked to gum disease.

Those with the condition may have poor glucose control, and if so, this could slow the dental implant healing process.

However, we are highly experienced in helping patients who may be at risk from diabetes, and by working closely with your GP, diabetes doesn’t have to rule implants out.

It may simply be a case of more extensive monitoring of your health before going ahead.

Blood pressure
Dental implants themselves don’t have any effect on blood pressure, but if you have hypertension and are taking medication to control it, your dentist needs to be aware.

Again, this is not something to be concerned about, and as with diabetes, we will work with your GP to take this into account and ensure the procedure runs smoothly.

Finance
Dental implants are a major investment, though of course our patients regularly tell us the experience is completely life-changing and absolutely worth every penny.

But what happens if you don’t currently have the funds to afford the cost of dental implants?

Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be an issue. We offer financing options that allow you to spread the cost so you certainly don’t need to pay everything up front.

Come in and talk to us

Whether these particular issues are relevant to you, or you’ve got a different question about the Smile in a Day same-day dental implant process, simply give us a call to talk about it.

Our consultations are free and you’ll likely find that, no matter what situation you’re in, we can adapt our process to suit your particular circumstances.

To find out more about our Smile in a Day treatment, you can arrange your free consultation here, or call 020 3553 6415

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