Dental News - New study investigates dental anxiety in children

Dental Tribune International

Tue. 5. March 2019

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MANGALORE, India: A key reason behind people not attending regular oral health check-ups can be anxiety stemming from their first experience in a dental setting as a child. In a recent study, researchers from India investigated whether there is an association between the temperament characteristics of children 3–5 years old, dental anxiety, and their dental behaviour. Results were gathered over three check-ups, with the aim of determining the effectiveness of behaviour management techniques such as tell-show-do and live modelling.

In the study, led by Dr Baranya Shrikrishna Suprabha from the Department of Paedodontics and Preventive Dentistry at the Manipal College of Dental Sciences, the researchers examined 100 children aged 3–5 years who were attending their initial dental visit accompanied by a parent.

Speaking to Dental Tribune International, Suprabha said, “When we reviewed the literature, the role of temperament in the dental behaviour of preschool children during the initial dental visit was unclear. Earlier studies had been carried out in older age groups of children and not necessarily during the initial dental visit. The association of temperament with dental anxiety, which has been shown to have an important role in the behaviour of the child in the dental clinic, was also investigated.”

During the initial oral examination of the children and their oral prophylaxis, the behaviour of the children was measured using the Frankl’s behaviour rating scale, and temperament was assessed using the Emotionality, Activity, Shyness Temperament Survey for Children. “The facial image scale used to assess the anxiety in our study has been shown to have good validity and reliability. Though we did not assess the validity and reliability again, all children responded easily to the scale,” explained Suprabha.

According to the study’s results, techniques like live modelling and tell-show-do are very effective in modifying a child’s behaviour. Additionally, children showed improvement in their behaviour with every subsequent visit. The researchers noted that proper assessment of children’s behaviour helps the dentist to execute the required treatment plan in the most appropriate manner.

The study, titled “Association of temperament with dental anxiety and behaviour of the preschool child during the initial dental visit”, was published on 6 February 2019 in the European Journal of Oral Sciences ahead of inclusion in an issue.

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