This in vivo study evaluated the comparative effectiveness of electroacupuncture at three different acupoints, Hegus (LI4), Auricular, and Neiguan (PC6), in managing the gag reflex in patients undergoing prosthodontic treatment. A total of 45 patients with moderate to very severe gag reflex were randomly assigned to one of the three acupoint groups, where electroacupuncture was applied during maxillary impression making. The severity and prevention of the gag reflex were measured using the Gagging Severity Index (GSI) and the Gagging Prevention Index (GPI), respectively. Results demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in gag reflex across all groups, with Neiguan showing the highest efficacy (75.8% improvement), followed by Hegus (67.75%) and Auricular (51.3%). The findings support electroacupuncture as a minimally invasive, rapid, and effective chairside method to control gag reflex, particularly when targeting the Neiguan point due to its influence on vagal modulation.

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ISSN : 2454-2288

NLM UID : 101671413

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ABSTRACT

A Comparative Evaluation of Effect of Electroacupuncture on Different Acupoints to Manage Gag Reflex in Patients Undergoing Prosthodontic Treatment: An In Vivo Study