Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Apr 20;17(8):2827. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17082827.
The objectives of this cross-sectional study were to investigate the fear level of kindergarten children in the general population during dental outreach in a familiar kindergarten setting, and to explore the factors associated with the dental fear of kindergarten children. Consecutive sampling method was used to select kindergarten children aged 3 to 5 to participate in a questionnaire survey and an outreach service. A behavioural observation type of instrument for dental fear and anxiety assessment-Frankl Behaviour Rating Scale (FBRS)-was chosen to investigate the fear level of the children. Bivariate analyses between various factors and children's dental fear and anxiety were carried out using Chi-square test. A total of 498 children participated in this study. Almost half (46%) of the children have had caries experience, and the mean dmft score was 2.1 ± 3.4. The prevalence of dental caries was 32%, 43%, and 64% in the 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds, respectively. Only 4% of the children scored negatively for dental fear and anxiety (95% CI 2.3%-5.7%). Children at three years of age displayed more dental fear and anxiety than children of older ages, but the difference in dental fear and anxiety among the genders and caries status was not statistically significant. Most of the children (92%) brushed daily, but only 20% of them used toothpaste. Most (85%) of them had never visited the dentist, and over 70% of them were mainly taken care by their parents. High levels of positive and cooperative behaviour and low levels of fear were found in this population. No statistical significance was found between the child's dental fear and any factors except age. Children generally displayed low fear or anxiety levels in a dental outreach consisting of a non-invasive oral examination and preventive treatment in a familiar kindergarten setting. Conducting regular outreach dental services to kindergartens by providing oral examination and simple remineralisation therapies could be a promising strategy to not only control childhood caries, but also manage and reduce dental fear and encourage long term dental attendance in line with the medical model.
本横断面研究的目的是调查在熟悉的幼儿园环境中进行口腔外展服务时，普通人群中幼儿园儿童的恐惧水平，并探讨与幼儿园儿童牙科恐惧相关的因素。采用连续抽样法选择 3 至 5 岁的幼儿园儿童参与问卷调查和外展服务。选择口腔恐惧和焦虑评估的行为观察量表-Frankl 行为评定量表（FBRS）来调查儿童的恐惧水平。使用卡方检验对各种因素与儿童牙科恐惧和焦虑之间的关系进行了双变量分析。共有 498 名儿童参与了这项研究。近一半（46%）的儿童有龋齿经历，平均 dmft 评分为 2.1 ± 3.4。3 岁、4 岁和 5 岁儿童的龋齿患病率分别为 32%、43%和 64%。只有 4%的儿童对牙科恐惧和焦虑评分呈阴性（95%CI 2.3%-5.7%）。3 岁儿童的牙科恐惧和焦虑程度高于年龄较大的儿童，但性别和龋齿状况之间的牙科恐惧和焦虑差异无统计学意义。大多数儿童（92%）每天刷牙，但只有 20%的儿童使用牙膏。他们大多数（85%）从未看过牙医，超过 70%的儿童主要由父母照顾。在这个人群中发现了高度的积极和合作行为以及低度的恐惧。除年龄外，儿童的牙科恐惧与任何因素之间均无统计学意义。在熟悉的幼儿园环境中进行包括非侵入性口腔检查和预防性治疗的口腔外展服务，儿童普遍表现出低水平的恐惧或焦虑。定期向幼儿园提供口腔检查和简单的再矿化治疗等口腔外展服务，可能是一种有前途的策略，不仅可以控制儿童龋齿，还可以管理和减少牙科恐惧，并鼓励长期定期看牙医，符合医疗模式。
