Influence of parental anxiety on children’s behaviour during their visits to dental clinic: a short clinical study

Abstract

Abstract Background Anxiety and fear of dental treatment in children have been recognized as sources of serious health problems. Parents are known to subtly transmit feelings of fear and anxiety to their children Commonly which has influence on children’s dental anxiety are maintenance of general health of the child, past dental history, oral hygiene practices and attitudes in the family towards oral health and high dental anxiety of parents, all of these contributed to sustained and elevated levels of children’s dental anxiety. Aim This study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of parental anxiety on their children during their visit to dental clinics. Objective To determine the relationship between parental anxiety level and that of a child. Methods A short clinical study was performed to assess the influence of parental anxiety on their children during their visit to dental clinics. Twenty subjects were randomly selected and their parents were given the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale Questionnaire (MDAS) and their physiologic parameters were measured during each visit. Similarly, the children’s responses were analyzed using the Facial Image Scale (FIS) and their physiologic parameters were measured. Results The values show a positive correlation (P < 0.05) between the scores (MDAS and FIS) and physiologic parameters (blood pressure and heart rate) of parents and their children. Conclusion The dental anxiety levels in parents influence the anxiety levels in children.

Keywords

• Parental anxiety
• Facial Imaging Scale
• Modified Dental Anxiety Scale