Objective : The prevalence o f Dental fear/anxiety as a barrier in accessing oral health care in Iranian children is poorly understood. The aims of this study were to evaluate the dental fear ,behavior management problems ,and examine the relationship between dental fear/anxiety and general anxiety , behaviour management problems as well as and parental general and dental anxiety.
Methods: In this descriptive- analytic study , the mothers of 200 children aged 3-6 were completed the questionnaires for both child and parents general and dental anxiety .Behaviour was evaluated according to Frankl scale.
Results:
The mean score of dental fear was 32.15±10 and the prevalence was 22.2%. There was no correlation between child’s dental fear and parental dental and general fear,however the correlation between child’s dental and general fear as well as behaviour management problems were significant.Girls showed more dental fear than boys.
Conclusions: According to results of this study Dental fear/anxiety seems to be more conditional and related to child’s temperament than parental impact. Parental evaluation of dental fear can be used as a predictor of child’s dental behaviour.