title: Dental anxiety among Israeli children and adolescents in a dental clinic waiting room.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate dental anxiety among children and adolescents using self-reported questionnaires.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred thirty 7- to 18-year-old patients (mean age=11.37 ± 2.84) who attended a clinic were asked to complete the Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) and the Dental Fear Survey (DFS) in the waiting room.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Females demonstrated higher dental anxiety than males. Higher anxiety was observed among patients who had their last dental visit over a year prior to the current visit and among patients who expected operative procedures. Extraction was the most anxiety-producing item. While in the dental chair, teeth cleaning produced significantly more anxiety than restoration. A significant correlation existed between the DAS and the DFS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pediatric dentists can expect high dental anxiety among: females; patients who wait long periods between visits; and patients expecting operative procedures. Teeth cleaning should not be considered an absolutely non-anxiety producing procedure for the patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. bperetz@post.tau.ac.il
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peretz
authors.forename: Johnny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kharouba
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D003740:Dental Clinics; D003777:Dental Prophylaxis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D002666:Psychology, Child; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires