Dental Anxiety: The Prevalence and Related Factors among ۷-۱۴-year-old Children in Yazd, Iran

Background: Dental anxiety/fear in children is a main reason for the problems in their behavior management and avoiding dental care. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and level of dental anxiety/fear in Iranian children and adolescents as well as its related factors. Methods: ۳۳۰ children aged ۷-۱۴ participated in this study and answered the questionnaire of Children’s Fear Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS). Data were analyzed using Chi-square and Split-half tests. Results: Dental anxiety prevalence was ۲۰.۶% in ۷-۱۱ year-olds and ۱۱% in ۱۲-۱۴ year-olds (P=۰.۰۰۱). This value was ۱۷.۶% in girls and ۱۴% in boys (P=۰.۰۱). Mean of the anxiety score was ۲۹.۳ - ۷.۶ in boys and ۳۱.۴ - ۷.۶ in girls (P=۰.۰۱۵). Prevalence of dental anxiety was ۱۹.۷% in the participants without previous dental experience and ۸.۶% in those with this experience (P=۰.۰۰۱). The mean anxiety score was ۳۱.۳ - ۷.۶ in children without previous dental experience and ۲۸.۶ - ۷.۳ in those with previous experience (P=۰.۰۰۲). The concomitant factors significantly related to high dental anxiety were injection and choking sensation. Conclusions: Dental anxiety is more in girls and children without previous dental experience, and it decreases with increasing age. Injection and choking sensation are related to high dental anxiety

Keywords:

Dental anxiety , Child , Pediatric Dentistry