Psychological and behavioral factors associated with dental anxiety in children.

This study of the relationship between dental anxiety and psychological and behavioral variables suggests that the most important factor in explaining the variance in children's perceived dental anxiety is their level of general anxiety. The negative relationship found among the frequency of dental visits, deciduous diseased, missing, and filled teeth (dmft), and dental anxiety implies that dental anxiety does not develop through simple exposure to dental settings. Perceived locus of control and perceived health vulnerability did not appear to be associated in any significant way with dental anxiety. The results indicate that dental anxiety may reflect a more general class of anxiety behaviors, rather than fears learned in response to a specific situation.