Factors associated with dental anxiety in Brazilian children during the first transitional period of the mixed dentition.

Abstract

To determine the prevalence of dental anxiety in children during the first transitional period of the mixed dentition and associated factors. A Cross-sectional study was performed with 1367 children of both genders aged 6-7years old conducted in schools in Recife, Brazil in 2013. The data were collected through interviews and intra-oral examinations. Dental anxiety data were obtained using the dental anxiety questionnaire (DAQ). The associated factors considered were: age, gender, social group, child's experience with the dentist, history of dental pain, experience of caries and phase of exfoliation. The prevalence of children with some level of dental anxiety was 54.4%. Visit to the dentist and social group were associated with dental anxiety (p<0.001). The prevalence of dental anxiety was high, although children attending private schools and those who had visited the dentist before had a lower prevalence of dental anxiety.