Child dental fear: cause-related factors and clinical effects.

• The relationship between child dental fear and clinical effects, and the importance of some etiological factors related to the development of dental fear in children, were studied in 3,204 urban Swedish children aged 4 to 6 and 9 to 11 yr. Information concerning child dental fear (as measured by the Dental Subscale of Children's Fear Survey Schedule), general fears, parental dental fear, parents' employment and native language was obtained through questionnaires. Data regarding dental health, behavior management problems (BMP) and modes of dental treatment were compiled from dental records. The results showed that child dental fear was associated with missing appointments and dental caries. A proportion of 27% of the children with BMP were dentally fearful, while 61% of the children with dental fear reacted with BMP. A model for stepwise regression analysis showed that general fears, maternal dental fear, and age were important etiological factors in the development of dental fear in children.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Odontologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Dentistry (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Age Factors

Appointments and Schedules

Child

Child Behavior

Child Behavior Disorders

psychology

Child

Preschool

Dental Anxiety

etiology

psychology

Dental Care

psychology

Dental Caries

complications

Employment

Fear

Humans

Mothers

Oral Health

Parent-Child Relations

Parents

Regression Analysis

Sweden

Urban Health

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)