Abstract
Aim
The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of anxiety related to dental care and analyse associated factors in children and adolescents in a low-income community in Recife, Brazil.
Study design
A cross-sectional study was conducted with 101 children and adolescents from both genders, aged from 6 to 16 years.
Methods
The dependent variable, anxiety related to dental care, was obtained by the dental anxiety questionnaire (DAQ). The independent variables were: the previous experience, the pain history and DMFT–dmft.
Statistics
Chi square test was performed to analyse the associations. In the multivariate analysis, binary logistic regression was performed.
Results
The probability of females in the sample experiencing anxiety was 3.1 times higher compared to males (OR 3.1 [1.3–7.2]). Children and adolescents who had never visited a dentist showed a level of anxiety 5.6 times higher than those who did (OR 5.6 [1.3–22.7]).
Conclusions
Anxiety related to the dental care presented a prevalence of 36.6 % in a population aged 6–16 years. Females in this group, as well as subjects who had never been to the dentist were more likely to present anxiety.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Armfield JM, Spencer AJ, Stewart JF. Dental fear in Australia: who’s afraid of the dentist? Aust Dent J. 2006;51(1):78–85.
Caraciolo G, Colares V. The prevalence of fear and/or anxiety related to the dental visits in 5-Years-old children in Recife city. Rev odontociênc. 2004;19(46):348–53.
Colares V, Franca C, Ferreira A. Amorim Filho HÁ, Oliveira MCA. Dental anxiety and dental pain in 5- to 12-year-old children in Recife, Brazil. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent. 2013;14:15–9.
Cruz JS, Cota LOM, Paixão HH, Pordeus IA. The image of the dentist: A study on social representation. Rev Odontol Univ São Paulo. 1997;11(4):307–13 (online).
Feitosa S, Colares V, Pinkham J. The psychosocial effects of severe caries in 4-year-old children in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. Cad Saúde Pública. 2005;21:1550–6.
Ferreira AMB, Colares V. Validation of the Brazilian version of the fear of dental pain questionnaire—short form (S-FDPQ). Pesq Bras Odontoped Clin Integr. 2011;11(02):275-9.
Freeman R. A psychodynamic theory for dental phobia. Br Dent J. 1998;184:170–2.
Harris TB, Sibley A, Rodriguez C, Brandt ML. Teaching the psychosocial aspects of pediatric surgery. SeminPediatr Surg. 2013;22(3):161–6.
Klingberg G, Broberg AG. Dental fear/anxiety and dental behaviour management problems in children and adolescents: a review of prevalence and concomitant psychological factors. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2007;17:391–406.
Majstorovic M, Veerkamp JS. Relationship between needle phobia and dental anxiety. J Dent Child. 2004;71(3):201–5.
Neverlien PO. Assessment of a single-item dental anxiety question. Acta Odontol Scand. 1990;48:365–9.
Nicolas E, Bessadet M, Collado V, et al. Factors affecting dental fear in French children aged 5–12 years. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2010;20:366–73.
Nomura LH, Bastos JLD, Peres MA. Dental pain prevalence and association with dental caries and socioeconomic status in schoolchildren, Southern Brazil, 2002. Braz Oral Res. 2004;18:134–40.
Oliveira L. The construction of the space, according to Jean Piaget. Revista Sociedade Natureza. 2005;17(33):105–17.
Oliveira MMT, Colares V. The relationship between dental anxiety and dental pain in children aged 18 to 59 months: a study in Recife, Pernambuco state. Brazil Cad Saúde Pública. 2009;25(4):743–50.
Paryab M, Hosseinbor M. Dental anxiety and behavioral problems: a study of prevalence and related factors among a group of Iranian children aged 6–12. J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent. 2013;31(2):82–6.
Skaret E, Raadal M, Berg E, Kvale G. Dental anxiety and dental avoidance among 12 to 18 year olds in Norway. Eur J Oral Sci. 1999;107:422–8.
ten Berge M, Veerkamp JSJ, Hoogstraten J, Prins PJM. Childhood dental fear in the Netherlands: prevalence and normative data. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2002;30(2):101–7.
World Health Organization (WHO). Oral health surveys: basic methods. 3rd ed. Geneva: ORH/EPID; 1987.
Acknowledgments
FW was kindly supported by an ELI Lilly fellowship. Research was funded by PRIN 2011 052013 to SM, Project PON01_00829 (by MIUR, Ministry of Economic Development and European Community) to AL, PRIN 07 2013.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Soares, F.C., Souto, G., Lofrano, M. et al. Anxiety related to dental care in children and adolescents in a low-income Brazilian community. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent 16, 149–152 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40368-014-0146-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40368-014-0146-8