Dental fear and anxiety among children and their caregivers
2015
Abstract
Introduction: Dental treatment is an experience that elicits fear and anxiety in most people, and particularly in children. This fear
is the first step to be overcome in the search for a satisfactory dentist-patient relationship. Aim: of this research was to assess fear
and anxiety among children and their caregivers when faced with dental treatment and identify the main reasons behind these
behaviors. Methodology: About 200 questionnaires consisting of nine multiple-choice questions and one open-ended question, to
obtain additional information, were administered to male and female patients aged 4 to 13 years who were treated at a university
pediatric dentistry clinic and to their respective caregivers. Results: show only one-third of children reported fear of the dentist.
Pain, needles, and anesthesia were the main reasons behind their feelings of fear. Over 70% of interviewed children reported having
experienced tooth pain at least once, which reinforces the importance of painful experiences as being associated with dental fear
in a portion of these patients. Conclusion: that although dental fear was uncommon among caregivers, approximately one-third of
children reported fear of the dentist, associated with perceived pain or needle phobia.
Key words: Dental Anxiety. Fear. Child. Questionnaires. Caregivers.
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