How Can We Reduce Dental Fear in Children? The Importance of the First Dental Visit
Dental fear is a common problem amongst children. It can affect children’s psychological well-being, quality of life, and oral and systemic health. The aim of this study was to identify whether the patients’ age at which visits to the paediatric dentist begin as well as the periodicity of these visi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Children |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/8/12/1167 |
| _version_ | 1797505851019231232 |
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| author | María Carrillo-Díaz Blanca Carmen Migueláñez-Medrán Carolina Nieto-Moraleda Martín Romero-Maroto María José González-Olmo |
| author_facet | María Carrillo-Díaz Blanca Carmen Migueláñez-Medrán Carolina Nieto-Moraleda Martín Romero-Maroto María José González-Olmo |
| author_sort | María Carrillo-Díaz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Dental fear is a common problem amongst children. It can affect children’s psychological well-being, quality of life, and oral and systemic health. The aim of this study was to identify whether the patients’ age at which visits to the paediatric dentist begin as well as the periodicity of these visits are factors that can prevent dental fear. This observational transversal study was conducted on 575 school children (average age 6.85 ± 0.78) and their mother/father/guardian. Parents completed a survey on the characteristics of dental visits and the child completed the index of dental anxiety and fear (IDAF-4C) to assess dental fear. The correlation between dental fear and age at first visit (r = −0.36 <i>p</i> < 0.01) and dental fear and frequency of visit (r = −0.65 <i>p</i> < 0.01) were statistically significant. The regression analysis performed showed that both variables predicted 44.4% of the dental fear in the child. In conclusion, the age of initiation to the paediatric dentist (before 2 years) and the periodic revisions (every 6 months or every year) could protect the child from dental fear. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:24:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c5770138bc79454fbc0276ecf0e6f390 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:24:14Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj.art-c5770138bc79454fbc0276ecf0e6f3902023-11-23T07:42:51ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672021-12-01812116710.3390/children8121167How Can We Reduce Dental Fear in Children? The Importance of the First Dental VisitMaría Carrillo-Díaz0Blanca Carmen Migueláñez-Medrán1Carolina Nieto-Moraleda2Martín Romero-Maroto3María José González-Olmo4Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28922 Alcorcón, SpainDepartment of Nursing and Dentistry, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28922 Alcorcón, SpainDepartment of Orthodontics, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28922 Alcorcón, SpainDepartment of Orthodontics, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28922 Alcorcón, SpainDepartment of Orthodontics, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28922 Alcorcón, SpainDental fear is a common problem amongst children. It can affect children’s psychological well-being, quality of life, and oral and systemic health. The aim of this study was to identify whether the patients’ age at which visits to the paediatric dentist begin as well as the periodicity of these visits are factors that can prevent dental fear. This observational transversal study was conducted on 575 school children (average age 6.85 ± 0.78) and their mother/father/guardian. Parents completed a survey on the characteristics of dental visits and the child completed the index of dental anxiety and fear (IDAF-4C) to assess dental fear. The correlation between dental fear and age at first visit (r = −0.36 <i>p</i> < 0.01) and dental fear and frequency of visit (r = −0.65 <i>p</i> < 0.01) were statistically significant. The regression analysis performed showed that both variables predicted 44.4% of the dental fear in the child. In conclusion, the age of initiation to the paediatric dentist (before 2 years) and the periodic revisions (every 6 months or every year) could protect the child from dental fear.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/8/12/1167dental feardental anxietypreventive dentistryclinic visitchildren |
| spellingShingle | María Carrillo-Díaz Blanca Carmen Migueláñez-Medrán Carolina Nieto-Moraleda Martín Romero-Maroto María José González-Olmo How Can We Reduce Dental Fear in Children? The Importance of the First Dental Visit Children dental fear dental anxiety preventive dentistry clinic visit children |
| title | How Can We Reduce Dental Fear in Children? The Importance of the First Dental Visit |
| title_full | How Can We Reduce Dental Fear in Children? The Importance of the First Dental Visit |
| title_fullStr | How Can We Reduce Dental Fear in Children? The Importance of the First Dental Visit |
| title_full_unstemmed | How Can We Reduce Dental Fear in Children? The Importance of the First Dental Visit |
| title_short | How Can We Reduce Dental Fear in Children? The Importance of the First Dental Visit |
| title_sort | how can we reduce dental fear in children the importance of the first dental visit |
| topic | dental fear dental anxiety preventive dentistry clinic visit children |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/8/12/1167 |
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