Influential Factors on Dental Fear and Anxiety of 8 - 12-Year-Old Children

Abstract

Background: Influential factors on dental fear and anxiety of 8 - 12-year-old Children. Dental fear is highly common, especially among children. Dental fear and dental anxiety are often used interchangeably; however, anxiety is defined as the anticipation of an adverse event, while fear is a normal unpleasant psychological reaction to a threat. Objectives: This study aimed to identify the influential factors on dental fear and anxiety of 8 - 12-year-old children. Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated 88 children between 8 - 12 years, including 44 girls (50%) and 44 boys (50%), presenting to a private dental clinic. Demographic information of the participants was collected, and dental anxiety of children was assessed using the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale Figurated (MCDASF). Dental fear was assessed using the Dental Subscale of the Children’s Fear Survey Schedule (CFSS-DS). Data were analyzed by independent t-test, Mann-Whitney test, ANOVA, and Kruskal-Wallis test (alpha = 0.05). Results: Age and birth order had significant effects on dental anxiety, such that children ≥ 10 years had significantly higher dental anxiety than those < 10 years (P = 0.03); also, children who were not the first child had a higher level of dental anxiety than those who were the first child (P = 0.005). Gender had a significant effect on dental fear, such that dental fear was significantly higher in girls than boys (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Children ≥ 10 years and those who were not the first child had a higher level of dental anxiety than others. Girls had a significantly higher dental fear than boys.