CHILDREN’S DENTAL ANXIETY IN RELATION TO PARENTAL DENTAL ANXIETY, CHILD’S AGE, GENDER AND CARIES EXPERIENCE (A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY)

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between parental dental anxiety, child age, gender
and caries experience on child dental anxiety in a group of Egyptian children.
Subjects and Methods: A total of Seventy-Four Egyptian children, aged six-eight years, and their mothers were
recruited from the outpatient clinic of Paediatric Dentistry and Dental Public Health Department, at Cairo
University. Child dental anxiety was assessed using the Abeer Children Dental Anxiety Scale (ACDAS) comprising
a child self-reported part and a cognitive part with six questions (four answered by the child and two answered by
their mothers) and heart rate measurement via a fingertip pulse oximeter. Mother’s anxiety was evaluated using the
Corah Dental Anxiety Scale (CDAS) answered by the mothers. Caries experience was recorded using Decayed,
Missed, Filled Teeth (DMFT) index for permanent teeth and decayed, extracted, filled teeth (deft) indices for
primary teeth. All clinical examinations and data collection were performed by a single calibrated examiner. Data
were analysed using SPSS version 28, employing appropriate correlation tests and significance was set at p<0.05.
Results: Among seventy-four children, the mean ACDAS score was 18.39±6.54, with only 13.5% (n=10) classified
as anxious. A moderate significant positive correlation was found between child anxiety (ACDAS) and mother
anxiety. Age had a significant effect on anxiety, with anxiety increasing with age. No statistically significant
associations were found between child dental anxiety and gender or caries experience.
Conclusions: Most children in this study showed low levels of dental anxiety, suggesting that there was a
positive dental experience and proper management techniques.