Department of Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Int J Paediatr Dent. 2013 Mar;23(2):125-30. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-263X.2012.01234.x. Epub 2012 Mar 21.
Few prospective studies on the anxiety of children in the dental office have been published.
To monitor dental anxiety levels in children with and without previous experience with toothache over a period of six consecutive visits.
A longitudinal study was carried out involving 167 children treated at a public dental service. Levels of anxiety in the dental setting were assessed in children without toothache (G1) and those with toothache (G2) using the modified Venham picture test (VPT). Data acquisition was carried out over a 6-week period, with each child treated in the dental office once a week. Six assessments of anxiety were performed in the waiting room prior to dental treatment.
A significant reduction in anxiety scores occurred between appointments in both groups. In the inter-group comparison, G2 had significantly higher anxiety scores than G1. Although statistically significant reductions in anxiety scores occurred through to the fifth appointment, a tendency toward stagnation in anxiety scores was observed beginning with the fourth appointment.
Dental anxiety scores were reduced over the course of six appointments. Children with toothache had higher levels of dental anxiety than those that had never experienced toothache.
鲜有前瞻性研究关注儿童在牙科诊室的焦虑问题。
连续六次就诊期间，监测有过和无过牙痛经历的儿童的牙科焦虑水平。
一项纵向研究纳入了在一家公立牙科服务机构接受治疗的 167 名儿童。采用改良 Venham 图片测试（VPT）评估无牙痛（G1 组）和有牙痛（G2 组）儿童在牙科环境中的焦虑水平。在 6 周的时间内采集数据，每周一次对每个孩子进行牙科治疗。在进行牙科治疗前，在候诊室进行了 6 次焦虑评估。
两组患儿的焦虑评分均在就诊期间显著降低。组间比较显示，G2 组的焦虑评分显著高于 G1 组。尽管焦虑评分在第五次就诊时显著降低，但从第四次就诊开始，焦虑评分趋于停滞。
经过六次就诊，儿童的牙科焦虑评分降低。有过牙痛经历的儿童的牙科焦虑水平高于从未经历过牙痛的儿童。
