Dental fear and its determinants in 7-11-year-old children in Tehran, Iran.

AIM

To assess dental fear and its determinants in 7-11-year-old children.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional (descriptive-analytical) study, the standard Persian version of the Children's Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS) questionnaire was completed by 240 parent-child (children aged 7-11 years) pairs referred to dental clinics in Tehran city, Iran. Background characteristics were also inquired.

RESULTS

An equal number of boys and girls participated in the study. The mean score of fear among the children was 21.66 ± 8.33. The causes of fear among the children were, first, injection, and then, seeing the dentist's drill, choking feeling, and finally, filling the tooth. There was a significant correlation between the scores of children's dental fear and their experience of meeting with the dentist (p = 0.001). The result of the regression test showed that the age of the children (p = 0.022) and high levels of dental fear among their fathers (p < 0.001) was related to high levels of dental fear among the children.

CONCLUSIONS

The present children revealed a moderate level of dental fear. Taking children's age into account in behavioural management and challenging father's fear seemed to play a key role to reduce the child's fear and prevent its long-term consequences.