Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026
08:09
Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood
Published on: February 11, 2017
Child dental fear and general emotional problems: a pilot study
J B Krikken1, J M ten Cate, J S J Veerkamp
1Department of Cariology, Endodontology and Paedodontology Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, Gustav Mahlerlaan 3004, 1081 LA Amsterdam, The Netherlands. j.krikken@acta.nl
Summary
This study found that young children with general emotional and behavioral problems, such as sleeping or attention issues, experienced more dental anxiety and disruptive behavior during dental visits. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Child Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Dental anxiety and behavioral management problems (BMP) in children stem from unpleasant stimuli during treatment.
- Individual differences in child-rearing and personality may explain varying responses to dental situations.
- The etiology of dental anxiety and BMP in children remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between a child's general emotional and behavioral problems and their dental anxiety.
- To explore the association between a child's general emotional and behavioral problems and dental behavioral management problems.
Main Methods:
- A pilot study involving 50 children (aged 4-12 years) and their parents.
- Parents completed the Child Fear Survey Schedule Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS) and Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL).
- Child behavior during dental treatment was assessed using the Venham scale.
Main Results:
- Analysis included 39 children (21 boys) with a mean CFSS score of 40.4.
- Younger children (4-5 years) with reported sleeping, attention, or aggressive problems exhibited more disruptive dental behavior.
- Children with emotional reactivity and attention problems showed increased dental anxiety.
Conclusions:
- A potential link between general emotional/behavioral issues and dental anxiety in young children was identified.
- Associations were also observed between emotional/behavioral problems and dental BMP.
- Further research with larger sample sizes is necessary to validate these preliminary findings.
Related Concept Videos
01:16Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Oral
The oral stage is the initial phase of Sigmund Freud's theory of psychosexual development, occurring from birth to approximately 12 to 18 months. During this period, the infant's mouth serves as the primary source of pleasure, with actions such as sucking, chewing, biting, and drinking playing a crucial role in reducing tension. These activities are essential not only for nourishment but also for the infant's psychological and emotional satisfaction.
Weaning, typically occurring around the age...
Weaning, typically occurring around the age...
01:09Preparedness and Phobias
Human fear responses to certain stimuli, such as darkness, heights, deep water, and blood, can often arise despite the absence of direct negative experiences. This phenomenon is rooted in evolutionary psychology, which posits that humans have developed a predisposition to fear stimuli that historically posed significant survival threats. This predisposition, known as preparedness, suggests that early humans who developed a fear of potentially dangerous entities, such as venomous snakes and...
01:15Teeth
The formation of teeth, also known as odontogenesis, is a complex process that begins in utero, around the sixth week of embryonic development. There are three stages to this process: the bud stage, the cap stage, and the bell stage.
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin and...
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin and...
01:28Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is characterized by an intense fear of social situations where one might face humiliation, rejection, embarrassment, or negative evaluation. This disorder leads individuals to avoid activities like casual conversations, public speaking, or seemingly simple tasks such as eating, signing documents, or swimming, in public settings. Its impact extends beyond discomfort, often significantly interfering with daily functioning and quality of life.