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Factors associated with dental anxiety in Brazilian children during the first transitional period of the mixed dentition

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Abstract

Aims

To determine the prevalence of dental anxiety in children during the first transitional period of the mixed dentition and associated factors.

Methods

A Cross-sectional study was performed with 1367 children of both genders aged 6–7 years old conducted in schools in Recife, Brazil in 2013. The data were collected through interviews and intra-oral examinations. Dental anxiety data were obtained using the dental anxiety questionnaire (DAQ). The associated factors considered were: age, gender, social group, child’s experience with the dentist, history of dental pain, experience of caries and phase of exfoliation.

Results

The prevalence of children with some level of dental anxiety was 54.4%. Visit to the dentist and social group were associated with dental anxiety (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The prevalence of dental anxiety was high, although children attending private schools and those who had visited the dentist before had a lower prevalence of dental anxiety.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Paediatric Dentistry and Dentistry, University of Pernambuco, Avenida Agamenon Magalhães, S/N Bairro de Santo Amaro, Recife, PE, Brazil

    K. A. Barreto, L. D. K. T. Dos Prazeres, D. S. M. Lima, F. C. Soares, R. M. M. P. Redivivo, C. da Franca & V. Colares

Authors
  1. K. A. Barreto
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  2. L. D. K. T. Dos Prazeres
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  3. D. S. M. Lima
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  4. F. C. Soares
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  5. R. M. M. P. Redivivo
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  6. C. da Franca
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  7. V. Colares
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. A. Barreto.

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The authors report no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Barreto, K.A., Dos Prazeres, L.D.K.T., Lima, D.S.M. et al. Factors associated with dental anxiety in Brazilian children during the first transitional period of the mixed dentition. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent 18, 39–43 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40368-016-0264-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40368-016-0264-6

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