J. B. Krikken

Influence of parental presence on the child’s perception of, and behaviour, during dental treatment

AIM: To analyse the influence of the presence of the parent in the dental operatory on their child’s behaviour during dental treatment. METHODS: This study was a randomised controlled trial performed in a secondary paediatric dental care clinic. The child’s perception of the dental treatment and its behaviour during treatment according to the parent and dentist were compared with parental presence in the operatory as independent variable. Age and dental anxiety were also calculated as co-variable. The child’s perception of the treatment was assessed using the Wong-Baker Faces Rating Scale. The behaviour of the child according to parent and dentist was measured using Venham’s (modified) clinical rating of anxiety and cooperative behaviour. Statistical analysis was performed using Mann Whitney U tests and Independent Samples T Test. RESULTS: 90 children participated (50% girls, mean age 6,21 years old, SD ± 1.56). During the habituation session child’s behaviour was better according to the dentist when the parents were not present in the operatory during treatment (p<0.01). There were no significant differences in a child’s perception of the treatment in relation to parental presence or absence. Dentally anxious children behaved better according to the parent (treatment session 2) and the dentist (habituation session and treatment session 2) when the parent was not present in the operatory (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Relying on a child’s perception of dental treatment, a made no difference whether the child was treated with or without the parent(s) in the dental operatory. For anxious children it was mainly the dentist who was aware of the disadvantages of the parental presence.

Child dental fear and general emotional problems: a pilot study

AIM: This was to investigate the relation between general emotional and behavioural problems of the child and dental anxiety and dental behavioural management problems. BACKGROUND: Dental treatment involves many potentially unpleasant stimuli, which all may lead to the development of dental anxiety and behavioural management problems (BMP). It is still unclear why some children get anxious in the dental situation while others, with a comparable dental history, do not. Besides the latent inhibition theory it is suggested that this can be explained by differences in child rearing and personality traits. METHODS: The sample consisted of 50 children (4–12 years old) and their parents participated in this study. Parents filled out the Child Fear Survey Schedule Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS) and the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) on behalf of their child. Child behaviour during consecutive dental treatments was assessed using the Venham scale. RESULTS: There were 39 children subject to analysis (21 boys) with a mean CFSS score of 40.4. Children aged 4 and 5 years who had sleeping problems, attention problems and aggressive behaviour, as scored by parents on the CBCL, displayed more disruptive behaviour during dental treatment. Children with emotionally/ reactive and attention problems were more anxious. CONCLUSION: In this pilot study a possible relation between general emotional and behavioural problems of young children and dental anxiety was shown. Also a relation between emotional and behavioural problems and dental behavioural management problems was shown. Because of the small number of subjects in our study, further research will be needed to confirm these results.

Longitudinal changes in dental fear and coping behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults with cleft lip and/or cleft palate

Objective To determine changes in dental anxiety levels of cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) children and to explore the role of coping strategies in the development of their dental anxiety. Design Prospective study. Setting Free University Medical Center Amsterdam. Patients A sample of CL/P children (at T1: n = 153, 4 to 18 years, 67 girls; at T2: n = 113, 7 to 21 years, 51 girls). Data were available at both time points for 102 children. Measures Dental anxiety and coping strategies were assessed at the start of the study (T1; mean age: 9.8 years, standard deviation 4.1) and 3 years later (T2; mean age: 13.4 years, standard deviation 3.8). These scores were compared to a normative group of Dutch children. Main Outcome Measure(s) The severity of dental anxiety was indexed using the Parental Version of the Dental Subscale of the Childrens Fear Survey Schedule. Dental coping strategies were assessed with the Dental Cope Questionnaire. Results Overall, dental anxiety decreased to a level equal to normative scores of Dutch children. However, 5% of the children became more anxious. At T2, children used significantly fewer coping strategies. Children whose level of dental anxiety increased significantly used more destructive coping strategies than children whose level of dental anxiety decreased significantly or remained stable. Conclusions Results suggest that dental anxiety levels of most CL/P children gradually decline over time. Whereas some coping strategies have the potential to be protective, more destructive coping strategies may put children at greater risk for developing and maintaining their dental anxiety.