Comparative effects of three mucoadhesive gels containing lidocaine, zinc acetate, and tannic acid on the gag reflex of dental patients: a randomized double-blind clinical trial.

Background: This study aimed to compare the effects of three mucoadhesive gels containing lidocaine, zinc acetate, and tannic acid on the gag reflex of dental patients.

Methods: This randomized double-blind clinical trial was conducted on 228 dental patients with gag reflex. The patients were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 57) of placebo, 2% lidocaine, 2% tannic acid, and 2% zinc acetate. The severity of the gag reflex of patients was initially scored by stimulating their soft and hard palate with a radiographic film using a 0-5 visual analog scale. After 5 min, mucoadhesive gels containing 2% lidocaine, zinc acetate, or tannic acid were applied on the hard and soft palate for 5-10 min, and the severity of the gag reflex was scored again. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and paired t-test for the single group comparison (alpha = 0.05).

Results: The four groups had no significant difference in the baseline mean gag score (p = 0.05). The difference in the mean gag score was significant among the four groups after the intervention (p < 0.00), and the mean score in the experimental groups was significantly lower than that in the placebo group (p < 0.00). The difference in the mean gag score was not significant between the experimental groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusions: The mucoadhesive gels containing 2% lidocaine, tannic acid, or zinc acetate significantly decreased the gag reflex in dental patients, with all three treatments showing comparable efficacy compared to the placebo. These findings suggest that each gel formulation is a viable alternative for managing the gag reflex during dental procedures.