{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,24]],"date-time":"2026-01-24T18:12:40Z","timestamp":1769278360430,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,23]],"date-time":"2025-01-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1737590400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Int J Paed Dentistry"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,7]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Background<\/jats:title><jats:p>Dental impressions are crucial in pediatric dentistry, but exaggerated gagging can obstruct this process. Various methods have been proposed to manage the gag reflex (GR).<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Aim<\/jats:title><jats:p>This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of laser acupuncture and electroacupuncture in controlling children's GR.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Design<\/jats:title><jats:p>A three\u2010armed randomized controlled trial was conducted with 63 patients aged 6\u20139, with excessive GR, scheduled for dental impressions. Participants were assigned to one of three groups: low\u2010level laser (<jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u200921), microcurrent stimulation with a Meridian pen (<jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u200921), and a control group with a deactivated pen (<jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u200921). Gag preventive index (GPI) was taken, and dental anxiety was assessed using the Facial Image Scale (FIS), pulse rate (PR), and blood oxygen saturation (SaO<jats:sub>2<\/jats:sub>). Significance was set at <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009&lt;\u20090.05.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>All interventions influenced GPI scores. The Meridian pen and laser groups achieved better GPI scores (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009&lt;\u20090.001) than the control group. FIS scores between the Meridian pen and laser groups were comparable, differing significantly from the control group (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009&lt;\u20090.001). The Meridian pen and laser groups showed greater reductions in PR (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009&lt;\u20090.001) and higher SaO<jats:sub>2<\/jats:sub> post\u2010intervention (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009&lt;\u20090.001).<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>The Meridian pen and laser outperformed the control group, demonstrating effectiveness in enhancing physiological and subjective measures.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Trial Registration<\/jats:title><jats:p>ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06422286<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1111\/ipd.13296","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,23]],"date-time":"2025-01-23T09:44:06Z","timestamp":1737625446000},"page":"848-856","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Effect of Low\u2010Level Laser Acupuncture and Microcurrent Electrical Stimulation on Gag Reflex in Children During Dental Impression: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial"],"prefix":"10.1111","volume":"35","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0002-4518-0351","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sara","family":"Salah","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Public Health Department Alexandria University  Alexandria Egypt"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Saswan","family":"Hafez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Public Health Department Alexandria University  Alexandria Egypt"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Marwa","family":"Baraka","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Public Health Department Alexandria University  Alexandria 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