The prevalence of dental anxiety in 150 children patients before tooth extraction / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To determine the prevalence of dental anxiety in children patients before tooth extraction.Methods　A modified Children's Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS) and Venham's clinical ratings of anxiety and cooperative behavior were used in 150 children patients ranging in age from 5 to 12 years olds before tooth extraction. The former scale was answered by parents on behalf of their children, and the latter ratings was assessed by the author. Results　CFSS-DS scores and clinical ratings of behavior of the children were significantly higher in the children whose oral hygiene condition, dental experience, tooth extraction experience, spirit status on that day and whose mother's educational background were bad or low. A step regression analysis showed that oral hygiene condition had most significant interrelationship with both of the two scales（P＜0.01）. The correlation of the two scales was high (r=0.67).Conclusion　Children’s oral hygiene condition, dental experience, tooth extraction experience, spirit status on that day and their mother’s educational background are closely related to the dental anxiety level. Oral hygiene condition is the most important predictor of anxiety level before extraction and clinical ratings of behavior during extraction.