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.

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).