Assessment of dental anxiety and the prevalence of dental caries in a group of 6-9 years old children

Children`s dental anxiety is responsible for increasing dental health problems, as patients avoid seeking treatment.
The aim of our study was to evaluate the level of dental anxiety and its correlation with dental health status in a group of children aged between 6-9 years.
Material and Methods. Our study included 56 children: first, they completed a questionnaire and then the decay-missing-filled teeth index was measured (DMFT).
Results. From a total of 59 children, 29 children had dental anxiety (51.78%) and the prevalence of caries was 69%. The mean and SD for the DMFT index was 1.76+/- 1.54 (2.04 +/- 1.98 for boys and 1.69 +/- 1.72 for girls, with p= 0.0391, p<0.05).
In conclusion, the level of dental anxiety can be reduced by frequent visits to the dental office. A favorable personal experience might help children increasing their confidence for dental treatment. There was a significant negative association between the value of filled teeth and the level of child`s anxiety.