Evaluation of dental fear among pediatric age group and parental anxiety using validated assessment scales

Abstract

Introduction: Dental fear and anxiety poses a significant problem in child patient management as such patients are more likely to avoid or delay seeking dental treatment, cancel dental appointments, and are considered to be the main barrier for successful completion of the dental treatment. Thus, early recognition and management of dental fear are imperative and the key to deliver effective dental treatment to the child patient. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate dental fear among children aged 4–12 years and parental anxiety using validated assessment scales. Methods: The study was conducted on 288 children who visited the Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry at Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences, Rohtak. The dental fear among children was measured using validated dental fear assessment scales, i.e., facial image scale and Children's Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS). Parental anxiety was assessed using Norman Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale (C-DAS). Children dental fear was compared with parental anxiety. The factors associated with dental fear (age, gender, parent gender, previous dental experience, socioeconomic status, and background area), and also, the first dental visit age was assessed. Results: A total of 288 children showed CFSS-DS of 25.36 ± 6.130, 105 were girls (36.5%) and 183 were boys (63.5%) with CFSS-DS of 25.56 ± 6.102 and 25.25 ± 6.160, respectively. This showed that there were no significant differences in fear between boys and girls. According to the facial image scale, 0.3% of children were reported to have dental fear. Parental anxiety showed C-DAS of 7.53 ± 4.674, 163 were female (56.6%) and 125 were male (43.4%) with C-DAS 9.53 ± 5.183 and 4.94 ± 1.852, respectively. Conclusion: Parental anxiety was not associated with children's dental fear. Among factors, age, previous dental experience, and socioeconomic status were associated with children's dental fear. The most common first dental visit age among the three groups was 5 years.