Prevalence of Dental Fear and Its Association with Oral Health Status Among School Children in Bosnia and Herzegovina: A Cross-Sectional Study
Jelena Eric,
Bojana Davidovic,
Rasa Mladenovic,
Marko Milosavljevic,
Ivana Dmitruk Miljevic,
Ljiljana Bjelovic,
Svjetlana Jankovic,
Olivera Dolic,
Brankica Davidovic
Affiliations
Jelena Eric
College of Dental Medicine, QU-Health, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
Bojana Davidovic
Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry with Orthodontics, Faculty of Medicine, University of East Sarajevo, Studentska bb, 73300 Foca, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Rasa Mladenovic
Department for Dentistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
Marko Milosavljevic
Department for Dentistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
Ivana Dmitruk Miljevic
Public Health Institution, Srpske vojske 53, 76300 Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ljiljana Bjelovic
Department of Dental Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of East Sarajevo, Studentska bb, 73300 Foca, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Svjetlana Jankovic
Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry with Orthodontics, Faculty of Medicine, University of East Sarajevo, Studentska bb, 73300 Foca, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Olivera Dolic
Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Medical Faculty, University of Banja Luka, 78000 Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brankica Davidovic
Department of Dental Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of East Sarajevo, Studentska bb, 73300 Foca, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Background and Objective: This study aimed to examine the prevalence of dental fear among schoolchildren in Bosnia and Herzegovina, analyze the distribution of dental anxiety by gender, age, and place of residence in relation to perceived sources of fear, and evaluate its association with oral health status. Materials and Methods: The sample included 355 schoolchildren between the ages of 12 and 15. Data were gathered using a self-assessment questionnaire, a brief clinical oral examination, and the Children’s Fear Survey Schedule–Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS). Results: Clinical examinations showed that 87.61% of the children had dental caries, with a mean DMFT score of 3.75 (SD = 2.93). The prevalence of dental caries was significantly higher in the older group compared to the younger group (p p Conclusions: The study found a moderate level of dental fear among Bosnian schoolchildren, with younger children and those from urban areas showing more fear of injections. It also showed a consistent link between dental anxiety and clinical factors such as caries, gum disease, and oral hygiene, even after adjusting for sociodemographic factors.
