Children’s dental anxiety (self and proxy reported) and its association with dental behaviour in a postgraduate dental hospital

Abstract

Purpose: Child dental anxiety (CDA) and uncooperative dental behaviour are common. We aimed to assess the prevalence of CDA (self- and proxy- reported) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) children related to their dental behaviour.

Methods: Data were collected from 312 questionnaires obtained from 156 parent/child (mean age 9.95±2.17 years) pairs attending a postgraduate dental hospital. Demographics, self/proxy- reported CDA scores via a six-question, fve-point Likert scale, of the Modifed CDA Scale-faces version (MCDAS-f: where≥19 was severe CDA) and Frankl Behaviour Rating Scale (FBRS) scores were compared and analysed. Chi-square test, Pearson’s correlation, Kappa- coefcient, one-way ANOVA and independent t test statistical analysis were used (p<0.05).

Results: The prevalence of self and proxy severe CDA was 22.4% (n=35) and 33.3% (n=52) respectively, with 9% (n=14) being dentally- uncooperative. In both groups, extractions caused the highest CDA followed by injections and fllings (p<0.001). The mean scores for self-reported/proxy-reported CDA were 15.02 (±4.90)/15.70 (±6.07) respectively. There was a positive linear correlation between self- and proxy- reported CDA scores and a negative linear correlation between self/proxy- reported CDA scores and the FBRS (p<0.001). Self/proxy concordance of severe anxiety/none-to-moderateanxiety was fair (68.6%, kappa=0.23, p=0.003). Both self/FBRS and proxy/FBRS concordance of severe anxiety/noneto-moderate- anxiety/behaviour was fair (78.8%, kappa=0.23, p=0.001) and (71.8%, kappa=0.22, p<0.001) respectively.

Conclusions: Considering the limitations of the present study in a UAE child population sample, the prevalence of CDA from extractions, injections and fllings was 22.4% (self- reported) and 33% (proxy reported). There was fair agreement between child- self and parent- proxy- reported CDA. Increased CDA led to uncooperative dental behaviour.