title: Individual changes in dental fear among children and parents: a longitudinal study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to study longitudinal changes in dental fear among children and one of their parents separately for girls, boys, mothers and fathers over a 3.5-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  11-12-year-old children in Pori, Finland (n = 1691) and one of their parents were invited to participate in this longitudinal study. Dental fear was measured in 2001, 2003 and 2005 when the children were 11-12, 13-14 and 15-16-years-old, respectively. The participants were asked if they were afraid of dental care (1 = 'not afraid', 2 = 'slightly afraid', 3 = 'afraid to some degree', 4 = 'quite afraid', 5 = 'very afraid' and 6 = 'I don't know'). The participants' gender was also registered. Mean values of the change scores were studied. Prevalence and incidence of dental fear and changes in dichotomized dental fear (responses 4-5 = high dental fear and responses 1-3 = low dental fear) were studied using cross-tabulations and Cochran's Q test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, the prevalence of dental fear slightly increased and female preponderance in dental fear became more evident during the follow-up. Of the mothers and children with high dental fear at the baseline, 24% and 56%, respectively, reported not to be fearful at the end of the follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dental fear seems to be more stable in adulthood than in childhood. Thus, it might be better to intervene in dental fear during childhood rather than during adulthood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Dentistry, Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku , Turku , Finland.
authors.forename: Anni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luoto
authors.forename: Mimmi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tolvanen
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rantavuori
authors.forename: Vesa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pohjola
authors.forename: Linnea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.forename: Satu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lahti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: adolescent; dental anxiety; incidence; prevalence