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VOLUME 4 , ISSUE 2 ( July-September, 2021 ) > List of Articles

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

A Study of Variables Affecting Child Fear on Successive Dental Office Visits

Sakshi Joshi, Meera Sandhu, Abhishek Dhindsa, Neetu Jain, Divya Arora

Keywords : Child–maternal anxiety relationship, Children's fear survey schedule-dental subscale, Dental fear, Modified dental anxiety scale, Parental anxiety

Citation Information : Joshi S, Sandhu M, Dhindsa A, Jain N, Arora D. A Study of Variables Affecting Child Fear on Successive Dental Office Visits. J South Asian Assoc Pediatr Dent 2021; 4 (2):79-85.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10077-3045

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 26-08-2021

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2021; The Author(s).


Abstract

Aim: To study influence of age, gender of the children, and their accompanying person's characteristics in managing fear of children on successive visits to the dental office. Materials and methods: An observational study was conducted in 50 children (5–8 years) and the accompanying persons. Children were divided into two groups according to their age: Group I: 5–6 years old and group II: 7–8 years, who required multiple visits for restorative treatment. The modified dental anxiety scale (MDAS) and children's fear survey schedule-dental subscale (CFSS-DS) questionnaires were used to evaluate accompanying person anxiety and child fear, respectively. Other factors like accompanying person, their education, age and sex of the child, and their relation to child fear level were also evaluated. Results: The child fear level was observed to significantly decrease on successive three visits (p value < 0.001) using the post hoc comparison test. Parental (accompanying person) anxiety (p value = 0.044) and parent education level (p value = 0.048) were observed to be two factors affecting child anxiety significantly. Also, educational level and area of residence were observed to affect parental anxiety significantly (p value = 0.001). Conclusion: Dental fear among children was observed to significantly decrease on successive visits. Age and sex of the child were observed to have no effect on child fear. Parent anxiety and their education level were observed to directly affecting child's behavior in the dental office.

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