The Evaluation of Dental Anxiety in Primary School Children: A Cross-Sectional Study from Romania
Current data report that high levels of dental anxiety in children have a negative impact on oral health. The aim of this study was to measure dental anxiety, based on the Abeer Children Dental Anxiety Scale (ACDAS) used as a self-reported measure and to correlate its values with the salivary cortis...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Children |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/7/10/158 |
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| author | Ramona Vlad Anca Maria Pop Peter Olah Monica Monea |
| author_facet | Ramona Vlad Anca Maria Pop Peter Olah Monica Monea |
| author_sort | Ramona Vlad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Current data report that high levels of dental anxiety in children have a negative impact on oral health. The aim of this study was to measure dental anxiety, based on the Abeer Children Dental Anxiety Scale (ACDAS) used as a self-reported measure and to correlate its values with the salivary cortisol levels. The study was conducted in 2019 and included 389 children aged 6–9 years old; evaluation of dental anxiety and saliva sampling were performed. The influence of gender on the presence of dental anxiety was analyzed using Fisher’s exact test, the salivary cortisol level was compared between anxious and non-anxious children and was further correlated with the ACDAS score (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Girls had higher odds of experiencing dental anxiety (odds ratio: 1.533, <i>p</i> = 0.041). Salivary cortisol levels were higher in anxious compared to non-anxious children (median 1.251 vs. 1.091 ng/mL, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and showed a positive moderate correlation with the ACDAS score (<i>r</i> = 0.411, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Children aged 6–9 years have a high prevalence of dental anxiety, with girls being more susceptible to this condition. Salivary cortisol levels are higher in anxious children and correlate positively with the ACDAS score, proving that ACDAS can be used for the detection of dental anxiety. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:53:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f075408e871943dfbdfa558d008598af |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:53:25Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj.art-f075408e871943dfbdfa558d008598af2023-11-20T15:52:35ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672020-10-0171015810.3390/children7100158The Evaluation of Dental Anxiety in Primary School Children: A Cross-Sectional Study from RomaniaRamona Vlad0Anca Maria Pop1Peter Olah2Monica Monea3Department of Odontology and Oral Pathology, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mureș, 540139 Tirgu Mures, RomaniaFaculty of Medicine, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mureș, 540139 Tirgu Mures, RomaniaDepartment of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mureș, 540139 Tirgu Mures, RomaniaDepartment of Odontology and Oral Pathology, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mureș, 540139 Tirgu Mures, RomaniaCurrent data report that high levels of dental anxiety in children have a negative impact on oral health. The aim of this study was to measure dental anxiety, based on the Abeer Children Dental Anxiety Scale (ACDAS) used as a self-reported measure and to correlate its values with the salivary cortisol levels. The study was conducted in 2019 and included 389 children aged 6–9 years old; evaluation of dental anxiety and saliva sampling were performed. The influence of gender on the presence of dental anxiety was analyzed using Fisher’s exact test, the salivary cortisol level was compared between anxious and non-anxious children and was further correlated with the ACDAS score (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Girls had higher odds of experiencing dental anxiety (odds ratio: 1.533, <i>p</i> = 0.041). Salivary cortisol levels were higher in anxious compared to non-anxious children (median 1.251 vs. 1.091 ng/mL, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and showed a positive moderate correlation with the ACDAS score (<i>r</i> = 0.411, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Children aged 6–9 years have a high prevalence of dental anxiety, with girls being more susceptible to this condition. Salivary cortisol levels are higher in anxious children and correlate positively with the ACDAS score, proving that ACDAS can be used for the detection of dental anxiety.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/7/10/158dental anxietycortisolsalivachild health |
| spellingShingle | Ramona Vlad Anca Maria Pop Peter Olah Monica Monea The Evaluation of Dental Anxiety in Primary School Children: A Cross-Sectional Study from Romania Children dental anxiety cortisol saliva child health |
| title | The Evaluation of Dental Anxiety in Primary School Children: A Cross-Sectional Study from Romania |
| title_full | The Evaluation of Dental Anxiety in Primary School Children: A Cross-Sectional Study from Romania |
| title_fullStr | The Evaluation of Dental Anxiety in Primary School Children: A Cross-Sectional Study from Romania |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Evaluation of Dental Anxiety in Primary School Children: A Cross-Sectional Study from Romania |
| title_short | The Evaluation of Dental Anxiety in Primary School Children: A Cross-Sectional Study from Romania |
| title_sort | evaluation of dental anxiety in primary school children a cross sectional study from romania |
| topic | dental anxiety cortisol saliva child health |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/7/10/158 |
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