Assessment of trait and state anxiety in 3-6-year old children during sequential phases of dental treatment

Aim: To assess changes in trait and state anxiety of children during sequential phases of dental treatment. Methods: Three hundred children, aged between 3 to < 6 years, who reported for their first dental visit were included. Both parents and children were evaluated over five sequential phases of dental treatment. Children’s Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS) and Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) were used to assess child’s trait anxiety. Children’s Emotional Manifestation Scale (CEMS) and Facial Image Scale (FIS) were used to assess child’s state anxiety. Child’s behavior was rated using Frankl’s Behavior Rating Scale (FBRS). Paired sample t-test, Pearson’s Correlation coefficient and Spearman’s Rank Correlation coefficient was performed. Results: Mean CFSS-DS and CEMS scores decreased significantly from the first (26.55; 10.25) to the fifth visit (24.74; 8.1) (p<0.05). A significant decrease in the mean FIS (state anxiety) score from the first (2.70) to fifth (2.48) visit was seen (p<0.05) Children’s behavior differed significantly between the dental visits.(p<0.001) There was a significant inverse correlation between behavior and both trait and state anxiety (p<0.05). Conclusions: Sequential phases of dental treatment significantly reduced trait and state anxiety.