Role of attachment style in prediction of behavior of 3 to 6-year-old children

Global prevalence of early childhood dental fear and anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this review is to determine the global prevalence of dental fear and anxiety (DFA) in early childhood and identify its related factors.

METHODS

The systematic review utilized three common English-language databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science). Two independent researchers performed a systematic search to include observational studies on young children published from 2000 to 2023. They extracted information on prevalence of DFA, assessment tools used, study sites, respondents, and children's dental visit experiences.

RESULTS

A total of 2,895 studies were identified, and 25 studies met the inclusion criteria for analysis. The pooled prevalence of DFA among 2- to 6- year-old children was estimated to be 30 % (95 % CI=25, 36). Children without dental visit experience (OR=1.37, 95 % CI=1.18, 1.59) and children with caries experiences (OR=1.18, 95 % CI=1.09, 1.27) had higher odds of experiencing DFA compared to those with dental visit experience or caries-free status. The most commonly used assessment tools in the included studies were the Frankl Behaviour Rating Scale (32 %, 8/25), Children's Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (20 %, 5/25), and Dental Anxiety Question (20 %, 5/25).

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review reveals that approximately one-third of young children globally experience DFA. Children who lack dental visit experience or have caries experiences are at increased risk of DFA. Clinicians can use this information to make informed decisions regarding dental care provision for young children.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

This study provides comprehensive information on the global prevalence of dental fear and anxiety and its associated factors in early childhood. The findings can assist clinicians in understanding and addressing DFA in their dental care approach for young children.

REGISTRATION

PROSPERO (CRD42023446464).

Assessment of child psychological attributes using strength and difficulties questionnaire for prediction of child behavior at first dental visit: a cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

Predicting child behavior before the first dental visit is considered an effective approach that enables the dentist to guide child behavior during the dental treatment.

AIM

The present study aimed to detect psychological attributes of children seeking dental treatment for the first time using the strength and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ), evaluate actual child behavior during the dental treatment using Frankl Behavior Rating Scale, and test the association between these attributes and child behavior.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

The study was conducted on 128 children aged between 4 and 7 years attending the outpatient Pediatric Dentistry clinic for the first time. Parents were asked to answer the SDQ, then a simple restorative treatment under local anesthesia was performed for children to evaluate their behavior using Frankl Behavior Rating Scale.

RESULTS

About 19.5% of the study sample were categorized as psychologically abnormal, where emotional and conduct problems were the most prevalent psychological attributes by a percentage of 22.7% and 20% respectively. A strong correlation was detected between the total difficulty score and child behavior.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychological problems are common among children aged from 4 to 7 years and they also affect their dental behavior.

Fingerprints as an index for investigating cooperation by children in dentistry: a pilot study

Behavioral management and patient cooperation are very important in pediatric dentistry. Some studies have indicated that individual behavior can vary in terms of fingerprint patterns (loop, whorl, and arch). Therefore, fingerprint patterns might help to predict the extent of cooperation by children during dental procedures. The present study aimed to investigate the possible relationship between fingerprint patterns and cooperation by children. In this pilot investigation, 51 children aged 3-6 years were examined. The children meeting the inclusion criteria in the first visit were scheduled for a dental procedure in the second visit. Another examiner assessed children's behavior during the dental procedure according to the designed questionnaire and based on the Frankl scale. A third examiner, along with the second examiner, randomly evaluated the children's behavior to determine the inter-examiner agreement. The subjects were categorized as cooperative or uncooperative during dental procedures, according to the Frankel questionnaire. The fingerprints of all subjects were recorded, and the data were compared with SPSS 21 using the chi-squared test at a significance level of P < 0.05. The uncooperative and cooperative groups consisted of 20 and 31 children, respectively. The main fingerprint pattern in the uncooperative children was the whorl; while in the cooperative group, it was the loop. This difference in the fingerprint effect was significant between the groups (P = 0.01). The arch type exhibited the minimum frequency and was not significantly different between the groups. The current findings revealed a relationship between fingerprint type and children's behavior during dental treatment.