Levels of Anxiety and Salivary Alpha-Amylase in Children During Restorative Dental Treatment

Abstract

Objective: To assess levels of anxiety and salivary alpha-amylase in children and its association with the use of informative or aversive behavioral management techniques during restorative dental procedures. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed with 69 children aged 4-12 years submitted to restorative dental treatment. The level of anxiety of patients was verified by means of the Modified Venham Picture Test and levels of salivary alpha-amylase were measured before and after the restorative procedure. The behavioral management techniques used during the dental procedure were registered. Associations between variables were analyzed using the chi-square test, considering statistically significant associations with p ≤ 0.05. Results: Salivary alpha-amylase showed high and moderate levels prior to dental procedure in 47 children (68.1%). Variables gender and behavioral management techniques were not associated with anxiety, as measured by VPT and salivary alphaamylase activity. However, younger children showed higher levels of alpha-amylase (p = 0.001). Conclusion: The sample revealed that the visit to the dentist has generated anxiety, manifested by behavioral and physiological changes, especially in children under 72 months; thus, no association between anxiety and the different management techniques was observed.

Assessment and Comparison of Dental Anxiety by Measuring Physiological, Psychological and Immune Responses in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Noninvasive Dental Treatment

“…This may be attributed to the fact that the child seems to be more stressed seeing new people, strange images, unpleasant odor, dental instruments, and equipment at dental operatory. Similar results were obtained in various studies conducted by Nater and Rohleder, 16 Alaki et al, 17 Reis et al, 18 and Alaki et al 6 A dental examination may act as a stressor which activates the autonomic nervous system leading to the release of epinephrine and norepinephrine. The latter is known to increase salivary amylase from acinar cells of the parotid and submandibular salivary glands.…”

Prevalence of dental anxiety in children and adolescents globally: A systematic review with meta‐analyses

“…Included studies were from 21 different countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, 29,30 Brazil, 15,20,21,31‐45 Canada, 46 China, 24,46‐48 England, 49 Greece, 50 India, 51 Iran, 52,53 Italy, 19 Kuwait, 54 Nepal, 55 the Netherlands, 16,56,57 Norway, 14,58,59 Romania, 60 Saudi Arabia, 5 Scotland, 61 Serbian, 25 Singapore, 62,63 Spain, 64 Sweden, 10,65‐70 and the United States 71‐74 . One study 75 included after the 2020 search update appears to be from Saudi Arabia; we emailed the authors asking for confirmation but they did not reply.…”

“…Pooled DA prevalence estimated from all 50 studies was 23.9% (95% CI 20.4 to 27.3). Thirty‐five studies provided data on DA prevalence by age group; among them four provided data on more than one age group: three on preschool and schoolchildren 42,46,51 and one on schoolchildren and adolescents 61 . The pooled prevalence of DA in preschoolers, schoolchildren, and adolescents was as follows: 36.5% (95% CI 23.8 to 49.2), 25.8% (95% CI 19.5 to 32.1), and 13.3% (95% CI 9.5 to 17.0), respectively.…”