Dental fear in school children and young adults attending public dental health care: prevalence and relationship to gender, oral disease and dental treatment; trends over 40 years

Abstract

Purpose To study prevalence of dental fear and the relationship to gender, oral disease and dental treatment between 1973 and 2013 in school children and young adults attending public dental health care. Methods Every ten years from 1973 to 2013 random samples of about 100 individuals in each of the age groups 10, 15 and 20 years took part in a repeated cross-sectional study based on clinical parameters and a questionnaire. Dental fear was estimated by the question: “What do you feel at the prospect of an appointment with a dentist?”. 75–99% of the samples answered the question. Agreement to at least one of the alternative answers: ill at ease, frightened and sick defined dental fear. Frightened and/or sick indicated severe dental fear. The prevalence of caries, gingivitis and number of filled tooth surfaces were calculated. Chi-square tests were used to show differences in proportions between groups and linear regression to show trends over time. Results Prevalence of dental fear declined in all age groups over time. In the 20-year olds dental fear was found in 29% of the sample and severe dental fear in 12% of girls and 5% of boys in 2013. Individuals with dental fear had higher mean caries prevalence and number of filled tooth surfaces compared with individuals without dental fear. Conclusions This 40-year time trend study showed a reduction in dental fear prevalence in school children and young adults offered regular public dental health care based on prevention and a psychological approach. The prevalence of dental fear was still high in 2013 despite a significant decline in caries during the study period. Further improvements in the psychological approach when treating children are thus needed.

Associations between temperament dimensions and dental anxiety in parents of the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study

“…Our findings indicate that temperament may have a stronger role than psychological symptoms or disorders in the development of dental anxiety; the latter may have a mediating role. These findings may also help us to understand why at the same time with decreasing dental anxiety, levels the prevalence of those with high dental anxiety has remained stable [ 50 , 51 ]. Understanding the role of temperament, especially negative affect and effortful control in dental anxiety has several clinical implications.…”

Gydytojų Odontologų Ir Burnos Priežiūros Specialistų Elgsena, Bendraujant Su Vaikais, Veikiamais Odontologinių Procedūrų Baimės

“…Vaikų odontologinio gydymo baimė turi daugybę priežasčių, ji laikoma sudėtingu ir daugiafunkciu reiškiniu [6]. Vaikų odontologinio gydymo baimė atsiranda tada, kai įprastinis burnos tyrimas sukelia diskomfortą ar skausmą [7]. Vienas iš svarbiausių vidinių veiksnių, lemiančių odontologinių procedūrų baimę, yra amžius.…”

A Cross-Sectional Study on the Impact of Children's Intelligence Quotient on Their Behavior and Anxiety in a Dental Setting

“…5 Dental fear and anxiety affect 6-20% of European children and 20-50% of Asian children between the ages of 4 and 18, according to estimates. [6][7][8][9] Behavior avoidance and noncompliance are outcomes of DFA, which are correlated with increased caries complications and the necessity for oral rehabilitation. 9 Additionally, DFA can identify the formation of detrimental cycles that result in subsequent postponement or nonattendance at the dentist, ultimately leading to a decline in oral health 10 .…”

“…Thus, there is an urgent need for further research, estimating the DFA prevalence and revealing it's contributing factors. 8,9 Parents can foster the psychosocial development of their children, which can influence their behavior. They can transmit anxiety and terror to their children 11 .…”