Prediction of behavior management problems in children

The aim of the present investigation was to study non-dental and dental background variables with a view to estimating their influence on behavior management problems by means of a structured interview and analyzing their separate and combined predictive power. The material consisted of a case group, 101 children aged 3-16 yr, referred for management problems to clinics of specialized pedodontics, and a control group, individually matched with the cases as regards age, sex, residential area, number of tooth surfaces restored, and dentist. The children or their parents were interviewed concerning background variables. Logistic regression was used for the analyses. Three non-dental variables turned out to be statistically significant as predictors (P less than 0.05): problems on visiting a medical doctor, dental fear in the mother or father, and anxiety when meeting unfamiliar people. Management problems might be expected if one of these attributes is found. Four dental variables had significant predictive power: earlier problems on seeing a dentist, dislike of the dentist, not enough time to adjust to the dental situation, and fear of injection. However, none of these dental variables was found to have predictive power in 3-6-yr-olds, and none of them improved the predictive power of the three main non-dental variables.     

Prediction of behavior management problems in children

Abstract – The aim of the present investigation was to study non-dental and dental background variables with a view to estimating their influence on behavior management problems by means of a structured interview and analyzing their separate and combined predictive power. The material consisted of a case group, 101 children aged 3–16 yr, referred for management problems to clinics of specialized pedodontics, and a control group, individually matched with the cases as regards age, sex, residential area, number of tooth surfaces restored, and dentist. The children or their parents were interviewed concerning background variables. Logistic regression was used for the analyses. Three non-dental variables turned out to be statistically significant as predictors ( P<0.05 ): problems on visiting a medical doctor, dental fear in the mother or father, and anxiety when meeting unfamiliar people. Management problems might be expected if one of these attributes is found. Four dental variables had significant predictive power: earlier problems on seeing a dentist, dislike of the dentist, not enough time to adjust to the dental situation, and fear of injection. However, none of these dental variables was found to have predictive power in 3–6-yr-olds, and none of them improved the predictive power of the three main non-dental variables.     

Effect of psychological management techniques on specific item score change during the management of dental fear in children

The aim of the study is to determine how specific fear inducing items contribute to the overall dental fear level in Nigerian children. In addition, it looks at the specific changes that psychological management produces on each item and how variables like age, gender and type of treatment received contribute to these specific changes observed. The dental fear level of 75 children, who were attending the dental clinic for the first time were assessed pre and post-treatment using the short form of the dental subscale of the child fear survey schedule. During treatment, the children were managed using various forms of psychological management strategies. The effect of age and the gender of the children on the dental fear level were analyzed. The effect of the type of treatment received, categorized into either invasive or non-invasive, on the dental fear level was also determined. Results showed that with the use of psychological management strategies, dental fear level of the children decreased significantly post treatment (13.45 vs 12.59; p = 0.009). However, no statistically significant dijfference was noted in the dental fear scores based on age, gender and type of treatment received. On the other hand, the aggregate scores for each of the possible fear inducing items highlighted in the psychometric scale varied and so did the effectiveness of psychological techniques in significantly reducing dental fear scores for each of the items. Age, gender and type of treatment did have significant effect on the fear level changes that occur with specific items. It was concluded that although a significant change occurred in the dental fear level score of the child post management with psychological techniques, this does not necessarily translate to significant changes in the scores for each fear inducing item assessed by the psychometric scale. Age, gender and the type of treatment the child received also influence the change that could occur for each item. The dental fear level of the children decreased significantly post treatment (13.45 vs 12.59; p = 0.009).     

Emotional contagion of dental fear to children: the fathers' mediating role in parental transfer of fear

International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2012; 22: 324–330 Background. Dental fear is considered to be one of the most frequent problems in paediatric dentistry. According to literature, parents’ levels of dental fear play a key role in the development of child’s dental anxiety. Hypothesis or Aim. We have tried to identify the presence of emotional transmission of dental fear among family members and to analyse the different roles that mothers and fathers might play concerning the contagion of dental fear to children. We have hypothesized a key role of the father in the transfer of dental fear from mother to child. Design. A questionnaire‐based survey (Children’s Fear Survey Schedule‐Dental Subscale) has been distributed among 183 schoolchildren and their parents in Madrid (Spain). Inferential statistical analyses, i.e. correlation and hierarchical multiple regression, were carried out and possible mediating effects between variables have been tested. Results. Our results support the hypothesis that family members’ levels of dental fear are significantly correlated, and they also allow us to affirm that fathers’ dental fear is a mediating variable in the relationship between mothers and children’s fear scores. Conclusions. Together with the presence of emotional transmission of dental fear among family members, we identified the relevant role that fathers play as regards the transfer of dental fear from parents to children.     

Child dental fear: cause-related factors and clinical effects

The relationship between child dental fear and clinical effects, and the importance of some etiological factors related to the development of dental fear in children, were studied in 3,204 urban Swedish children aged 4 to 6 and 9 to 11 yr. Information concerning child dental fear (as measured by the Dental Subscale of Children's Fear Survey Schedule), general fears, parental dental fear, parents' employment and native language was obtained through questionnaires. Data regarding dental health, behavior management problems (BMP) and modes of dental treatment were compiled from dental records. The results showed that child dental fear was associated with missing appointments and dental caries. A proportion of 27% of the children with BMP were dentally fearful, while 61% of the children with dental fear reacted with BMP. A model for stepwise regression analysis showed that general fears, maternal dental fear, and age were important etiological factors in the development of dental fear in children.     

父母牙科焦虑诱导儿童牙科畏惧症行为的影响

目的:观察父母牙科焦虑(parental dental anxiety,PDA)在对儿童牙科畏惧症(child dentalfear,CDF)行为诱导中的作用。方法:240例同时伴有CDF和PDA的家庭,按照儿童年龄进行分层随机分组。实验组CDF在实施诱导前首先进行家长PDA的行为诱导。对照组仅对CDF实施行为诱导。结果:对PDA的诱导可有效促进CDF的行为诱导效果,与对照组相比具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:对伴随家长PDA的CDF诱导过程中,父母(家长)PDA的行为诱导具有重要作用。     

Children's fear and behavior in private pediatric dentistry practices

PURPOSE: This study assessed the proportion of children with dental fear, the proportion of children with negative behavior and the relationship of children's dental fear and children's negative behavior in private pediatric dentistry practices in western Washington state. METHODS: A total of 421 children seen in 21 private pediatric dentistry practices in western Washington State participated. The average age of the children was 6.8+/-2.8 years (range=0.8-12.8 years). An average of 21 children were studied per practice (range=7-25 children). Dental fear was measured using the parents' version of the Dental Subscale of the Child Fear Survey Schedule (CFS). Behavior of the child during treatment was rated using the Frankl scale. Additional data were collected regarding the child's previous experiences and parental fear. RESULTS: The children's average item score on the 15-item CFS was 2+/-0.7, corresponding to a total score of 29.6 out of 75, where 75 indicates maximum fear. The proportion of children with dental fear, defined as an average item score of > or = 2.5 (corresponding to a total score of > or = 38), was 20% (85/421, 95% CI=16.3, 24%). The proportion of children who displayed negative behavior during treatment was 21% (95% CI=17.5, 24%). A prevalence ratio of 2.4 was calculated to describe the relationship between children's behavior during treatment and children's dental fear prior to dental treatment. Multivariate logistical regression analysis showed children with dental fear, younger children, and children exposed to treatment involving local anesthesia have higher odds of displaying negative behavior. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of children with dental fear in private pediatric dentistry practices was 20%, and the proportion of children with negative behavior during treatment was 21%. Children with negative behavior had greater odds of having dental fear and children with dental fear had greater odds of having negative behavior. Screening for dental fear may allow pediatric dentists to prepare children more adequately for positive treatment experiences.     

Temperamental reactivity and negative emotionality in uncooperative children referred to specialized paediatric dentistry compared to children in ordinary dental care

Background. Current treatment of children with dental behaviour management problems (DBMP) is based on the presupposition that their difficulties are caused by dental fear, but is this always the case? Objective. The aim of this study was to study temperamental reactivity, negative emotionality, and other personal characteristics in relation to DBMP in 8‐ to 12‐year‐old children. Methods. Forty‐six children referred because of DBMP (study group) and 110 children in ordinary dental care (reference group) participated. The EASI tempramental survey assessed temperamental reactivity and negative emotionality, the Child Behaviour Questionnaire internalizing and externalizing behaviour problems, and the Children's Fear Survey Schedule general and dental fears. Cluster analyses and tree‐based modelling were used for data analysis. Results. Among the five clusters identified, one could be characterized as ‘balanced temperament’. Thirty‐five per cent of the reference group compared to only 7% of the study group belonged to this cluster. Negative emotionality was the most important sorting variable. Conclusions. Children referred because of DBMP differed from children in ordinary dental care, not only in dental fear level, but also in personal characteristics. Few of the referred children were characterized by a balanced temperament profile. It is important to consider the dual impact of emotion dysregulation and emotional reactivity in the development of DBMP.     

The use of imagery suggestions during administration of local anesthetic in pediatric dental patients

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of suggestion before and during the administration of local anesthesia to children. These effects were then observed and correlated with social, behavioral and dentally related variables. Eighty children between the ages of three and sixteen years and who required at least one injection of local anesthesia were monitored. Retrospective examinations of their dental records provided the information regarding the behavior and dental treatment histories of the patients. All other data were provided through observation during the dental treatment phase. During the first treatment session, before the injection, each child was asked to select a favorite, pleasant memory or image. Where children had difficulty in identifying an image, one was proposed by the dentist. After an image had been chosen, the patients were asked to concentrate on the image and to visualize it during the procedure. The majority of children had chosen their own images, and significantly visualized the same images throughout the injection procedures. Image selection and visualization had no association with gender, age, the parent's assessment of the child's behavior, previous dental experience, behavior (both past and present) or, management techniques (both past and present). We conclude that imaging techniques may be successfully utilized in the administration of local anesthesia to young children (from three years of age) in an effort to mitigate untoward, pain-related stress.     

Prevalence of dental anxiety and behavior management problems among six to eight years old Danish children

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of dental anxiety among 6 to 8-year-old Danish children using the Children's Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS) and behavior management problems. The study was designed as a population-based cross-sectional survey of children attending the municipal dental service in four municipalities in the county of North Jutland, Denmark. In 2001, the CFSS-DS questionnaire was mailed to the parents of all children born in 1993, 1994, and 1995 (parents of 1666 children) in 4 municipalities. Data on behavior management problems were collected from the children's dental records held by the municipal dental service. Questionnaires were returned from 1281 (76.9%) parents. The prevalence of dental anxiety (i.e. CFSS-DS > or = 38) was 5.7% (95% CI: 4.6% 7.1%), and the median CFSS-DS score was 22 (1st quartile 19; 3rd quartile 27). A history of behavior management problems was observed in 37.2% (95% CI: 33.3%-41.1%) of all children who had had dental treatment, but more often in children with dental anxiety.     

Cognitive ability and dental fear and anxiety

Dental fear and anxiety (DFA), as well as dental behavior management problems, are common in children and adolescents. Several psychological factors in the child, and parental DFA, have been studied and found to correlate to the child's DFA. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between cognitive ability and DFA in a population‐based group of children with identified behavior and learning problems. In conjunction with a dental examination at 11 yr of age, 70 children were assessed with regard to DFA using the Children's Fear Survey Schedule Dental Subscale (CFSS‐DS), and their cognitive ability was assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. In addition, parental DFA was measured using the Corah Dental Anxiety Scale. The results revealed that DFA was significantly correlated to verbal intelligence quotient (IQ) but not to any other cognitive index. A significant correlation was found between parental DFA and child DFA. The results indicate that the child's verbal capacity may be one factor of importance in explaining dental fear in children.     

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??With the development of our country's economy and oral health??the prevalence of dental caries has decreased in children. It is worth noting that the rate of untreated dental caries in children remains at a high level??due to the limitation of psychological and physiological development of children??they are more likely to produce fear and uncooperative behavior??and thus they are unable to complete clinical treatment. The great obstacle in the diagnosis and treatment is the dental fear of children. Therefore??the oral treatment for uncooperative children is the main problem faced by children and their parents. This paper presented a review on the psychological characteristics of children in dental situation??causes of fear??and behavior management methods according to clinical features of children in clinical practice.     

Can parents and children evaluate each other’s dental fear?

Luoto A, Tolvanen M, Rantavuori K, Pohjola V, Lahti S. Can parents and children evaluate each other’s dental fear? Eur J Oral Sci 2010; 118: 254–258. © 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2010 Eur J Oral Sci The aim of this study was to determine whether parents and their 11–16‐yr‐old children can evaluate each other’s dental fear. At baseline the participants were 11–12‐yr‐old children from the Finnish Cities of Pori (n = 1,691) and Rauma (n = 807), and one of their parents. The children and their parents were asked if they or their family members were afraid of dental care. Fears were assessed using single 5‐point Likert‐scale questions that included a ‘do not know’ option. Children and parents answered the questionnaire independently of each other. Background variables were the child’s and their parent’s gender. Parents’ and children’s knowledge of each other’s dental fear was evaluated with kappa statistics and with sensitivity and specificity statistics using dichotomized fear variables. All kappa values were < 0.42. When dental fear among children and parents was evaluated, all sensitivities varied between 0.10 and 0.39, and all specificities varied between 0.93 and 0.99. Evaluating dental fear among fearful children and parents, the sensitivities varied between 0.17 and 0.50 and the specificities varied between 0.85 and 0.94, respectively. Parents and children could not recognize each other’s dental fear. Therefore, parents and children cannot be used as reliable proxies for determining each other’s dental fear.     

Epidemiologic study of dental fear in school children 8-15 years of age

Authors investigated the dental fear scores (DAS, DFS) of 139 primary school children in Budapest, Hungary (72 females, 67 males, ages between 8-15 years). Sex and age had no effect on the scales. Mean dental fear scores were high (DAS: 10.7 +/- 3.7, DFS: 40.4 +/- 15.3). A strong correlation between DAS and DFS, and somewhat lower correlation between these scales and the general anxiety scales were demonstrated. Children's evaluation of the dental fear of the family and relations strongly correlated with dental fear and moderately with general anxiety. The results indicate that, dental fear is influenced by dental fear of family and relations, and general anxiety, but much less influenced by other demographic variables (i.e. age, sex) in primary-school children.     

虚拟现实技术应用于儿童口腔治疗非药物行为引导的进展

 儿童由于其年龄、认知等因素影响,是牙科焦虑/畏惧症的高发人群,难以配合医生完成治疗。由于常规的行为管理效果欠佳,且采用药物对儿童进行行为管理的方式家属又表示担忧,从而延误了病情治疗。虚拟现实技术拥有的特性比较适合于儿童口腔治疗中的行为管理。文章通过阐述虚拟现实技术在减轻疼痛、缓解焦虑中的作用,从而介绍儿童口腔治疗非药物行为管理的进展。     

基于环境听觉管理的舒适化治疗策略在儿童牙科畏惧症中的应用效果研究

摘要：目的    探讨基于环境听觉管理的舒适化治疗策略在儿童牙科畏惧症中的应用效果。方法    选择2021年7—8月于武汉大学口腔医院儿童口腔科就诊需行口腔治疗的3 ~ 10岁牙科畏惧症患儿60例，随机分为试验组和对照组，每组各30例。对照组仅进行行为管理，试验组在行为管理基础上采用环境听觉管理（佩戴无线智能耳机聆听音乐或音乐故事）。采用儿童畏惧调查-牙科分量表（CFSS-DS）和Venham临床焦虑与合作行为级别评定量表（以下简称“Venham量表”）评估两组患儿治疗前后的焦虑畏惧水平和临床合作情况。结果    在治疗后，两组患儿CFSS-DS评分较治疗前均显著下降，且试验组患儿CFSS-DS评分和Venham量表评级均显著低于对照组，差异均有统计学意义（均P < 0.05）。此外，试验组患儿的临床合作率显著高于对照组，差异有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。结论    基于环境听觉管理的舒适化治疗策略能够有效缓解儿童的牙科畏惧症状和焦虑水平，提高就诊的依从性和配合度，有望为开展儿童口腔舒适化治疗提供新的思路和参考。     

Lack of cooperation in pediatric dentistry--the role of child personality characteristics

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate fear, temperament, behavioral symptoms and verbal intelligence in a study group of uncooperative child dental patients, partly in comparison with a reference group of ordinary child dental patients. A second aim was to explore a hypothesis of heterogeneity by searching for subgroups within the study group. METHODS: Parents of 86 study group children (36 aged 4-to 7- years and 50 aged 8- to 12-years) and 117 reference group children (8- to 12-years) answered a questionnaire concerning dental and general fear, temperament and general behavior. Study group children performed a vocabulary test to measure verbal intelligence. Data were analyzed with a variable-based and a person-based approach. RESULTS: In addition to dental fear, a higher level of impulsivity most clearly discriminated study group from reference group children. Cluster analyses revealed four different fear and personality subgroups within the study group. CONCLUSIONS: Uncooperative child dental patients constitute a heterogeneous group. Subgroups with different fear, temperament and behavior problem profiles can be identified. These subgroups could be presumed to benefit from different treatment regimens, which should be further investigated.     

Dental treatment, dental fear and behaviour management problems in children with severe enamel hypomineralization of their permanent first molars

Summary. Objectives. To assess the demand for restorative treatment, dental anxiety and dental behaviour management problems among children with severe hypomineralization of their first molars (MIH). Design. Case control study. Sample and methods. Data were compiled from the dental records of 32 9‐year‐old children with severe enamel hypomineralization of their first molars and from 41 controls of the same age group concerning dental health, a number of restorative treatments, use of local anaesthesia and clinical behaviour management problems (BMP). A questionnaire containing specific questions on children’s experiences of dental care and the Children’s Fear Survey Schedule – Dental Subscale (CFSS‐DS), was answered by the parents. Results. The children in the study group had undergone dental treatment of their first molars nearly 10 times as often as the children in the control group. Repeated treatments of these teeth at brief intervals were common. The dental treatment was often undertaken without the use of local anaesthesia, and BMP, and dental fear and anxiety (DFA) were more common than in the controls. Conclusions. Children with severe enamel hypomineralization of their first molars had had to undergo a considerable amount of dental treatment. It is reasonable to assume that experiences of pain and discomfort on repeated occasions were related to the occurrence of BMP in patients with MIH. An early treatment planning and prognostication based on increased knowledge of hypomineralized first molars is desirable. Local anaesthesia and other pain‐reducing techniques, e.g. sedation, should be used when treating these teeth. Extraction should be considered in cases of extensive disintegration of the crown, in cases of frequently repeated treatments or when pulpal symptoms are hard to cure.     

Parental beliefs on the origins of child dental fear in The Netherlands

The aim of this study was to assess parental beliefs on the causes and prevention of child dental fear in the Netherlands. The parents of 123 children (67 high fearful and 56 low fearful children) were interviewed about the causes of their children's dental fears, and about factors contributing to the prevention of this fear. Parents attributed their child's dental fear to the following factors: invasive dental experiences (37 percent), medical problems (19 percent), child's temperament (16 percent), negative dentist behavior (13 percent) and social influences (5 percent). In the prevention of child dental fear, an empathetic dentist (34 percent) and parental guidance (30 percent) were mentioned most frequently. In conclusion, conditioning factors were reported to be highly important in the development of child dental fear. Some of the parents, however, indicated temperamental factors to have played a role, suggesting that subgroups of dentally fearful children exist. These temperamental or psychological factors seem also to contribute substantially to the development of dental fear. Possible differences in parental attributional style are discussed.