Relationship between 4-11-year-old Children\'s Dental Anxiety and their Behavior during Treatment

Background and Objectives: One of the professional goals of pediatric dentistry is to promote a positive attitude and improve the dental health of society. The percentage of unmet medical needs in primary and permanent teeth in children is high, and dental fear and anxiety are some of the factors involved in this. The present study aimed to assess the relationship between 4-11-year-old children's dental anxiety and their behavior during treatment. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 272 children referred to pediatric dental clinics. After obtaining their consent, the children's parents completed a questionnaire containing the children's demographic information. In the waiting room, the child's fear and anxiety were evaluated based on two standard scales: Facial Image Scale and the Children's Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale. After the treatment, the Frankle index was recorded by the dentist to assess the child's behavior. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 20) using the chi-square test. Results: The average score obtained in the CFSS-DS test for children was 28.08. Anxiety Levels showed a statistically significant relationship with age (P=0.008) and history of dental visit (P=0.006). Children in the very happy group in the FIS and those in the anxious group in the CFSS-DS test displayed more negative behavior with the FBRS index (P=0.000). Conclusion: As evidenced by the obtained results, dental anxiety is lower in children with older age and a history of dental visits. The fear of injection and the sound of dental instruments were, respectively, the most important causes of dental anxiety in children.