Children’s Anxiety during Dental Treatment with Minimally Invasive Approaches: Findings of an Analytical Cross-sectional Study

Objective: To assess children’s anxiety before, during and after dental treatment with minimally invasive approaches: Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) and Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) application. Material and Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study, in which 1306 children were initially examined, and from these, those that had at least one deciduous molar with dentin caries (score 5 ICDAS) were selected, being indicated to ART and SDF treatments. The final sample consisted of 94 children, 46 girls and 48 boys, aged between 6 and 8 years old. Each child received an ART or SDF procedure, and in all interventions, operators and treatments were randomized. Dental anxiety was assessed by facial image scale (FIS) before, during and after minimally invasive approaches. Results: Dental anxiety prevalence was of 34% before the minimally invasive approaches. Children showed a higher anxiety level during interventions (ART and SDF). And, after the service was finished, there was an increase in children with high anxiety, which ranged from 3.1% (before treatment) to 9.6% (after treatment). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the anxiety related to the types of treatment and conformation of the cavities (class I and II). Conclusion: Both child groups had higher anxiety levels during treatments, both in ART and SDF approaches.