Abstract
This study evaluated the dental anxiety levels of preschool children at a kindergarten and at a dental clinic. The anxiety levels of ninety 4-6-year-old (4.99 ± 0.81) preschool children were evaluated according to pulse rates, the facial image scale (FIS), the Venham picture test (VPT), and the Frankl behavior rating scale. The children's mothers were asked to complete the state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) forms 1 and 2 (STAI 2 and STAI 2). The sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Pearson's correlation test were used. A statistically significant difference was observed between the children's pulse rates when measured at the dental clinic and those when measured at the kindergarten (p < 0.001). Although the results were not statistically significant, more negative facial expressions were observed in the children at the dental clinic than in those at the kindergarten when assessed using FIS and VPT (p = 0.090 and p = 0.108, respectively). There was a statistically significant correlation between the transient anxiety levels (STAI 1) of mothers and the VPT scores of their children evaluated at the dental clinic (r = 0.506, p < 0.001). The continuous anxiety level of the mothers of males was found to be significantly higher (p = 0.033) than that of the mothers of females (STAI 2). Although the children had been informed about dentistry and were introduced to a dentist at the kindergarten, their anxiety levels seemingly increased as they arrived at the dental clinic. The significant increase observed in the children's pulse rates was a physical indicator that their anxiety levels had increased. It can be concluded that the children felt more anxious at the dental clinic that at the kindergarten.
Highlights
Patient anxiety can be a major problem in all branches of medicine, including dentistry
Factors specific to dentistry that can negatively affect a child on an emotional level include dental instruments with which the child has no prior experience, treatment methods, pain arising from treatments, fear caused by these treatments, and unfamiliar adults working as staff at the dental clinic
facial image scale (FIS), Venham picture test (VPT), and pulse rate measurements were performed both at the kindergarten classroom and at the dental clinic, whereas the Frankl Behavior Rating Scale was only applied at the dental clinic
Summary
Patient anxiety can be a major problem in all branches of medicine, including dentistry. It can present problems for both the dentist and patients, in pediatric dentistry. Factors specific to dentistry that can negatively affect a child on an emotional level include dental instruments with which the child has no prior experience, treatment methods, pain arising from treatments, fear caused by these treatments, and unfamiliar adults working as staff at the dental clinic. Negative experiences that a child may have had at an early age and his/her interactions with the environment are factors that increase anxiety.[1,2,3]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
