Dentophobia, Exploring Parental Factors - A Cross-sectional Survey

Abstract

Aim To examine the relationship between parentsrsquo socioeconomic status parental dental anxiety parenting style on childrenrsquos oral health behaviour childrenrsquos dental anxiety and dental visit frequency.Methods A cross-sectional study was designed with a sample of 101 physically and mentally healthy children in the age group of 6-13 years. Two google forms were formulated. One for the parents to fill out and the other form for the child. Form 1 to be filled by the parent included four sections - Socio-demographic details Dental anxiety scale CORAHrsquoS revised DAS-R Parenting style and dimension questions PSDQ Childrenrsquos fear survey schedule CFSS-DS. Form 2 to be filled by the child included three sections - Dental anxiety scale CORAHrsquoS revised DAS-R Oral health behaviour perception scale and Childrenrsquos fear survey schedule CFSS-DS.Using the results of the two formsThe proportion of children with dental anxiety was assessed.Comparison of childrenrsquos dental anxiety to those of their parents was done.The correlation between parenting style to a childrsquos dental anxiety was assessed.Childrsquos oral health behaviour was correlated to their anxiety.Socioeconomic status with oral health behaviour was assessed.Childrsquos degree of anxiousness was determined.Results This study investigated the association between childrenrsquos dental fear and anxiety DFA and family-related factors. It showed significant correlation between dental anxiety of children and dental anxiety of parents oral health behaviour of parents fear in parents. Oral health behaviour perception of children was found to be significantly associated with dental anxiety of parents oral health behaviour perception of parents and fear in parents. Fear in children was found associated with dental anxiety of parents oral health behaviour perception of parents.Conclusion It can be concluded that parentsrsquo dental fear and anxiety are reflected in their children. It in turn affects the childrsquos oral hygiene behaviour