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Global prevalence of early childhood dental fear and anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of Dentistry Mar 2024The objective of this review is to determine the global prevalence of dental fear and anxiety (DFA) in early childhood and identify its related factors. (Meta-Analysis)
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).
Topics: Child; Child, Preschool; Humans; Anxiety Disorders; Dental Anxiety; Dental Caries; Prevalence; Observational Studies as Topic
PubMed: 38246307
DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2024.104841 -
Journal of Gastroenterology Aug 2023The YOu and Ulcerative colitis: Registry and Social network (YOURS) is a large-scale, multicenter, patient-focused registry investigating the effects of lifestyle,...
BACKGROUND
The YOu and Ulcerative colitis: Registry and Social network (YOURS) is a large-scale, multicenter, patient-focused registry investigating the effects of lifestyle, psychological factors, and clinical practice patterns on patient-reported outcomes in patients with ulcerative colitis in Japan. In this initial cross-sectional baseline analysis, we comprehensively explored impacts of symptom severity or proctocolectomy on nine patient-reported outcomes.
METHODS
Patients receiving tertiary care at medical institutions were consecutively enrolled in the YOURS registry. The patients completed validated questionnaires on lifestyle, psychosocial factors, and disease-related symptoms. Severity of symptoms was classified with self-graded stool frequency and rectal bleeding scores (categories: remission, active disease [mild, moderate, severe]). The effects of symptom severity or proctocolectomy on nine scales for quality of life, fatigue, anxiety/depression, work productivity, and sleep were assessed by comparing standardized mean differences of the patient-reported outcome scores.
RESULTS
Of the 1971 survey responses analyzed, 1346 (68.3%) patients were in remission, 583 (29.6%) had active disease, and 42 (2.1%) had undergone proctocolectomy. A linear relationship between increasing symptom severity and worsening quality of life, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and work productivity was observed. Patients with even mild symptoms had worse scores than patients in remission. Patients who had undergone proctocolectomy also had worse scores than patients in remission.
CONCLUSIONS
Ulcerative colitis was associated with reduced mood, quality of life, fatigue, and work productivity even in patients with mild symptoms, suggesting that management of active ulcerative colitis may improve patient-reported outcomes irrespective of disease severity. (UMIN Clinical Trials Registry: UMIN000031995, https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index-j.htm ).
Topics: Humans; Colitis, Ulcerative; Quality of Life; Proctocolectomy, Restorative; Cross-Sectional Studies; Patient Reported Outcome Measures
PubMed: 37351647
DOI: 10.1007/s00535-023-02005-7 -
European Journal of Paediatric Dentistry Dec 2023The aim of the present study is to evaluate the relationship between sequential visits in dental caries treatments and dental anxiety levels of paediatric patients...
AIM
The aim of the present study is to evaluate the relationship between sequential visits in dental caries treatments and dental anxiety levels of paediatric patients through the use of anxiety scales and physiological measurements.
METHODS
A total of 224 children aged 5-8 years who needed at least two bilateral restorative dental caries treatments of the mandibular first primary molar was included in the study. The treatment duration was approximately 20 minutes and time span between the two appointments was a maximum of two weeks. The Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (WBFPS) and The Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) were used for subjective measurements and the objective measurement of dental anxiety was performed by measuring the heart rate using a portable pulse oximeter. Statistical analysis was carried out using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 22 (IBM corp. Armonk, NY, USA).
RESULTS
Out of the 224 children, 117 were girls (mean age 6.4 ± 1.1 years) and 107 were boys (mean age 6.1 ± 1.2 years). The mean age of the patients was 6.26 ± 1.147 years, ranging from 5 to 8. There were no statistical significant differences between children’s age and genders with dental anxiety. However, there were statistical significant differences for the variables regarding the sequential visits. When comparing the MDAS scores statistically significant differences were observed between the first and second visits (p<0.001). Both preoperative and postoperative WBFPS scores were significantly higher at the first visit than at the second visit. Statistically significant differences were observed in the heart rate scores between the treatment sessions (p<0.001).
CONCLUSION
The results of this study show a significant reduction in dental anxiety after sequental dental visits in children aged 5-8 years, which highlights the importance of the sequental visits in paediatric dentistry.
Topics: Child; Humans; Dental Anxiety; Dental Caries; Pediatric Dentistry; Dental Care; Molar
PubMed: 37337965
DOI: 10.23804/ejpd.2023.1848 -
International Dental Journal Jan 2024The most known and commonly studied behavioral obstacle to dental care is dental anxiety. An obstacle that is less studied though no less problematic is excessive gag...
BACKGROUND
The most known and commonly studied behavioral obstacle to dental care is dental anxiety. An obstacle that is less studied though no less problematic is excessive gag reflex, which can severely impede dental treatment. Another understudied and possibly related syndrome is emetophobia (a specific phobia of vomiting).
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine possible comorbidity amongst self-reported emetophobia, dental anxiety, and excessive gagging in the dental office.
METHODS
A cross-sectional online survey was conducted using the following self-report questionnaires: Dental Anxiety Scale, Gagging Problem Assessment, Gagging Assessment Scale (GAS), and Specific Phobia of Vomiting Inventory (SPOVI).
RESULTS
In all, 164 participants fully completed the questionnaires (87.8% female; mean age, 34 ± 11.07 years). Positive correlations were found amongst all variables (P < .001). High gagging (GAS > 6) was associated with a 7.29 times (P < .000) greater risk of positive emetophobia (SPOVI ≥ 10). Linear regression analyses revealed that the intensity of the reflex and the experience of gagging upon encountering odours in the dental office as well as dental anxiety and vomiting phobia significantly predicted participants' gagging scores as evaluated by GAS (R = 0.59; F = 21.16; P < .001).
CONCLUSIONS
The study shows that excessive gagging reflex in the dental office is closely related both to dental anxiety and to emetophobia.
PubMed: 38228431
DOI: 10.1016/j.identj.2023.12.002 -
Frontiers in Oral Health 2023The present study investigated the clinical potential of managing anxiety during dental procedures to reduce acute attacks in patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE).... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
The present study investigated the clinical potential of managing anxiety during dental procedures to reduce acute attacks in patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE). HAE is a rare disease, little known to physicians and dentists, but with an increased hospitalization rate over the years. HAE is due to a deficiency/dysfunction of the C1 esterase inhibitor, leading to increased vascular permeability. Recommendations for HAE management include long-term and short-term prophylaxis and treatment of acute attacks, but the importance of anxiety control is underestimated.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The authors reviewed the literature to provide the scientific community with an overview of possible protocols for managing anxiety in dental practice and their effectiveness. Management can be used in prosthetics, periodontal and implant surgery, endodontics, and oral surgery.
DISCUSSIONS
Our analysis shows that although there are few articles in the indexed literature, protocols for managing anxiety in HAE patients in dentistry will become increasingly prevalent in the daily clinical practice of dentists due to its benefits.
CONCLUSIONS
The benefits and better control of intraoperative complications and risks may lead clinicians to use sedation, assessment, or anxiety control techniques in daily clinical practice to reduce such attacks. Clinical relevance: This study suggests that controlling and managing anxiety can help prevent and reduce acute angioedema attacks.
PubMed: 37927822
DOI: 10.3389/froh.2023.1257703 -
International Dental Journal Oct 2023Early childhood caries (ECC) is prevalent and affects more than half of 5-year-old children in Hong Kong. This study aims to report the development of an outreach dental...
Early childhood caries (ECC) is prevalent and affects more than half of 5-year-old children in Hong Kong. This study aims to report the development of an outreach dental service using silver diamine fluoride (SDF) to arrest ECC amongst kindergarten children in Hong Kong. A pilot outreach service was initiated in 2008 in 14 kindergartens. The pilot service provided screening to 1,749 3- to 5-year-old children. SDF was applied to 3,262 carious teeth of 786 children with parental consent. No significant complications were reported. The pilot service's success allowed the service to expand to 100 kindergartens in 2013. From 2010 to 2019, the service delivered 161,354 dental screenings and SDF therapy on 218,333 carious primary teeth in 53,821 children. ECC prevalence amongst the participating children declined from 43% in 2010 to 34% in 2019. A follow-up of 222 3-year-old children revealed that annual SDF therapy arrested 67% of ECC over 3 years. The children's participation rate and their parents' satisfaction rate with the service were greater than 90% each year. Moreover, the acceptance rate of SDF therapy to control ECC was 88%, although SDF stained carious lesions black. No adverse effects of SDF therapy were reported. A cross-sectional survey on a sample of 498 3- to 5-year-old children showed that 96% of the participating children had no dental fear or anxiety in this service, with encouragement and support from their peers and teachers. In 2019, the service was made available to all 1,024 kindergartens in Hong Kong. This kindergarten outreach dental service (Case Study HKU/04/003) was selected as an Impact Case Study in the thematic report "Health & Healthcare" by the Hong Kong University Grant Council (UGC). The UGC publishes thematic reports to give members of the public some concrete idea on what contributions academic research has brought to the society.
Topics: Humans; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dental Caries Susceptibility; Schools; Dental Caries
PubMed: 37612156
DOI: 10.1016/j.identj.2023.07.169 -
Indian Journal of Dental Research :... 2023Noncooperative behaviour faced by a paediatric dentist is the most common attribution towards behavioural manifestations of anxiety in children, and it had been observed... (Review)
Review
Noncooperative behaviour faced by a paediatric dentist is the most common attribution towards behavioural manifestations of anxiety in children, and it had been observed that these relationships are long-deterministic and form part of the aforementioned belief system of the child. Forehead and Long in their study found that most uncooperative behaviour of the child is due to their strong will and these children are generally confident, persistent and independent. A fruitful method to deal with strong willed children is to violate the causal relationship by some magic tricks from preventive via curative to his/her follow ups visits. Tricks can be applied at three levels of their visit. Level 1 is preoperative tricks, which includes the preventive measures that teach and educate children for good oral health. Level 2 is operative tricks, which involves child preparedness for successful dental procedures. Level 3 is postoperative tricks, which involve positive reinforcement for regular follow ups. The purpose of this review is to make paediatric dentists think like magicians by using the science behind the magic and applying it in their practice for creating a positive attitude of a child toward dentistry and better procedural experience.
Topics: Child; Humans; Dentists; Oral Health; Pediatric Dentistry; Dental Anxiety
PubMed: 38197355
DOI: 10.4103/ijdr.ijdr_986_22 -
Journal of Medicine and Life Oct 2023Dental anxiety is a familiar problem among children, which may affect their oral health. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate dental anxiety during the first...
Dental anxiety is a familiar problem among children, which may affect their oral health. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate dental anxiety during the first dental examination in relation to dental caries and salivary alkaline phosphatase, taking into account the nutritional status of children. Eighty-two children (45 boys and 37 girls), aged six to eight years old (average 6.96), were recruited from public clinics in Baghdad city. Participants were divided into the anxious and the non-anxious groups according to physiological measures (oxygen saturation and heart rate) before the first dental treatment. The weight and height of each child were measured to determine the nutritional status (normal weight, overweight, and obese). Dental caries (prevalence and severity) in children with different nutritional statuses were recorded using dmf, DMF, and the guidelines outlined by Manjie . Saliva was collected to analyze salivary alkaline phosphatase. No statistically significant differences were observed between anxious and non-anxious children in means of dmf and DMF indices (teeth and surfaces) in primary and permanent teeth (p>0.05) in the three nutritional status groups. However, non-anxious children exhibited a higher mean of d1 (initial enamel caries) compared to anxious children, with statistical significance (p<0.05) observed only in normal-weight children. Salivary alkaline phosphatase was not significantly different between the two groups. In conclusion, dental anxiety did not appear to significantly impact caries development in primary teeth or salivary alkaline phosphatase levels in children with varying nutritional statuses. Anxiety reduced the initial enamel caries in normal-weight children.
Topics: Child; Male; Female; Humans; Nutritional Status; Alkaline Phosphatase; Dental Caries; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dental Anxiety
PubMed: 38313167
DOI: 10.25122/jml-2023-0085 -
European Journal of Dental Education :... Aug 2023With the emergence of COVID-19, dental medicine students were faced with a new reality, as a modification of the learning methods in Dentistry colleges happened. The aim...
INTRODUCTION
With the emergence of COVID-19, dental medicine students were faced with a new reality, as a modification of the learning methods in Dentistry colleges happened. The aim of this study was to characterise the possible effects of Covid-19 pandemic in terms of anxiety, depression, and stress among students of dentistry.
MATHERIALS AND METHODS
This cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2020 and May 2021. A total of 1115 participants from a total of approximately 3000 students from the seven university institutions that teach the master's degree in dentistry in Portugal, agreed to participate. An online self-reported questionnaire was applied through Google Forms® platform. The questionnaire was divided in three sections: the students' sociodemographic characterisation, pedagogical aspects, and questions about anxiety, depression, and stress using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress-21 Scale.
RESULTS
Normal levels of anxiety, depression, and stress, were found in 41%, 36.7%, and 22.7% of the participants, respectively. Being female was the most significant and strong predictor of anxiety and stress, and for depression, not feeling fulfilled in the course they were in was the most significant variable.
CONCLUSION
The participants presented high values of anxiety, depression, and stress, during the pandemic state. Gender and not feeling fulfilled in the course were important predictors.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; Pandemics; Depression; Students, Dental; Cross-Sectional Studies; Stress, Psychological; Education, Dental; Anxiety
PubMed: 36176054
DOI: 10.1111/eje.12858 -
BMC Oral Health Nov 2023The primary objective of this study was to validate an Urdu translation of Kleinknecht's Dental Fear Survey (DFS) for use in Pakistan and to explore which items...
OBJECTIVE
The primary objective of this study was to validate an Urdu translation of Kleinknecht's Dental Fear Survey (DFS) for use in Pakistan and to explore which items contribute the most to the variance in dental fear scores based on patient perceptions and lived experiences during dental care.
METHODOLOGY
This mixed-method study was conducted at Dow Dental Hospital from February 2022 to June 2022. For quantitative analysis, a total of 273 participants were enrolled through convenience sampling. After obtaining signed consent, participants were asked to self-report their dental fear. In-depth interviews with 25 patients displaying moderate to high dental fear were conducted to clarify the elements of dental fear scores through the lens of individual perceptions and experiences.
RESULTS
The prevalence of moderate dental fear was significantly higher among female participants than males. The mean dental fear score was higher among females (39.47 ± 14.23) as compared to males (30.83 ± 10.50). Most of the female participants reported an increase in breathing rate and heartbeat during dental treatment. The highest mean fear score was reported by participants who underwent oral surgical treatment (42.98 ± 14.21), followed by participants who received restorative care (36.20 ± 12.60). Approaching the dentist's office was the significant factor that contributed the most to the variance in dental fear scores. Four themes were generated through the content analysis of the interviews: physical reactions to dental procedures, perceptions and fears about surgical and restorative procedures, and gender and environmental factors in dental fear and interaction with dentists.
CONCLUSION
The Urdu translation of DFS is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing dental fears in Pakistan based on the findings of this study. Patients perceive surgical and restorative procedures as unpleasant and threatening. It was noted that "the heart beats faster" and "the breathing rate increases." were the top two physiological responses.
Topics: Male; Humans; Female; Dental Anxiety; Research Design; Dental Care; Heart Rate; Surgery, Oral
PubMed: 37981667
DOI: 10.1186/s12903-023-03626-3