Predictors of dental anxiety in Brazilian 5-7years old children.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to analyze the predictors of dental anxiety in 5 to 7-year-old children in a two years follow-up.


METHODS
This is a longitudinal study conducted with 784 children with 5 to 7years old. A face-to-face interview was conducted with the parents. The Dental Anxiety Question (DAQ) answers were categorized as presence or absence of dental anxiety. The possible predictor factors analyzed were: related to the children (age, sex, parentage, childbirth, physical activity, body satisfaction, psychological well-being, physical well-being, dentist visit); and related to the parents or guardians (excessive alcohol consumption, smoke, family income, number of children). Forward stepwise logistic binary regression was performed for the multivariate analysis. The analysis was controlled by gender.


RESULTS
The prevalence of dental anxiety was 17.4%. Children in lower family income had 2.3 (95% CI: 1.3-4.0) greater chance to report high dental anxiety in comparison to children in higher family income. Similarly, children's parents who reported lower psychological well-being had 1.5 (95% CI: 1.0-3.0) greater chance to report high dental anxiety in comparison to children's parents with higher psychological well-being.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of dental anxiety was high, and the family income and psychological well-being were inversely associated to dental anxiety in children.


CONCLUSIONS
Knowing the dental anxiety predictors could help the pediatric dentist to analyze and understand who is more susceptible to develop dental anxiety. An adequate approach, a trust relationship could be built, improving the oral health conditions and reducing the need of treatment in children.
University of Pernambuco - Post-Graduation Program in Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry, Recife, Brazil. Electronic address: fercsoares@gmail.com.
Fernanda Cunha
FC
Soares
University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark, and Center for Research in Childhood Health; CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil, Brasília, DF, 70040-020, Brazil.
Rodrigo Antunes
RA
Lima
University of Pernambuco - Post-Graduation Program in Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry, Recife, Brazil.
Carolina da Franca Bandeira Ferreira
Cda F
Santos
University of Pernambuco - Post-Graduation Program in Physical Education UPE/UFPB, Research Group on Lifestyles and Health, Recife, Brazil.
Mauro Virgílio Gomes
MV
de Barros
University of Pernambuco - Post-Graduation Program in Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry, Recife, Brazil.
Viviane
V
Colares
D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D015995:Prevalence