Fateme Kebriaei - Assistant Professor of Pediatric Dentistry, Department of Pediatrics , School of Dentistry, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Hajar Attarzadeh - Assistant Professor of Pediatric Dentistry, Department of Pediatrics , School of Dentistry, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Elnaz Foroughi - Assistant Professor of Pediatric Dentistry, Department of Pediatrics, School of Dentistry, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.
Mehdi Taghian - Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Mazandaran, Iran.
Soroush Sadri - Resident of physical and rehabilitation medicine, Medical Students’ Research Center, School of medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Mahnaz Nemati - Dental student, Sari Faculty of Dentistry, School of Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Leyli Sadri - Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Mazandaran, 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

Dental anxiety, Child, Pediatric Dentistry