FREQUENCY OF DENTAL ANXIETY AMONG CHILDREN AGED 5–12 YEARS VISITING A DENTAL TEACHING HOSPITALS IN KOHAT, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Background: Dental anxiety in children is recognized as a public health problem in many countries. Anxiety among dental patients directly affects their oral hygiene. The objective of this study was to evaluate the level of anxiety among children 5–12 years of age visiting dental hospital in Kohat city of Pakistan. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 children attending the dental teaching hospital in Kohat, Pakistan. ‘Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale’ (MCDASf) was used to assess the level of anxiety in children. Results: Out of 400 participants, only 60 (15%) children were non-anxious, 119 (29.7%) were mildly anxious, 89 (22.2%) were moderately anxious while majority of the patients (132, 33%) were severely anxious. Statistically significant differences were observed between the level of anxiety and different age groups (p<0.01). As the age increased the mean dental anxiety score decreased from 20.70 in the age group 5–8 years to 16.35 in age group 9–12 years. Conclusion: Our study confirms age differences in dental anxiety and found to be lower in older age group. Strategies like recognizing the symptoms before starting any dental treatment and managing it with counselling and other therapies would have effect in reducing anxiety in younger age group.

Pak J Physiol 2021;17(4):39–41