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The Effect of Earplugs on Gag Reflex and Patient Comfort in Root Canal Treatment
Sponsor: Beyhan Başkan
Summary
This study evaluated whether wearing an earplug during root canal treatment reduces the gag reflex and the stress it causes. Forty adults who had a severe or very severe gag reflex were randomly divided into two groups. One group received an earplug in the ear opposite to the side being treated; the other group received standard treatment without an earplug. The severity of the gag reflex was scored by an observer, stress was measured using a saliva sample (salivary alpha-amylase), and treatment time and gag-related interruptions were recorded. The results showed that the earplug group had lower gag-reflex scores, lower stress levels, and shorter treatment times with fewer interruptions. No side effects were reported. These findings suggest that a simple, low-cost earplug may help patients who gag easily during dental treatment.
Official title: The Effect of Using Custom-Made Silicone Earplips on Gag Reflex Severity, Behavioral Responses, and Salivary Alpha-Amylase Levels as a Stress Biomarker in Patients Undergoing Root Canal Treatment: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
40
Start Date
2025-05-12
Completion Date
2026-02-05
Last Updated
2026-10-05
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Custom-Made Silicone Earplug
A personalized earplug fabricated from a soft, two-component addition-cure silicone (C-type silicone), commonly used for dental impressions. The two components are mixed according to the manufacturer's instructions and gently injected into the patient's external auditory canal on the side contralateral to the tooth receiving treatment. The silicone is allowed to polymerize for approximately 2-3 minutes, creating a custom-fit plug that conforms precisely to the individual contours of the ear canal. This ensures comfortable, continuous, and gentle tactile stimulation to the walls of the ear canal throughout the entire root canal procedure. The earplug is removed at the end of the treatment and is for single-patient use only. No other devices or pharmacological agents are used in conjunction with this intervention.
Locations (1)
Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Universty
Kahramanmaraş, Turkey (Türkiye)