Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 5, 2026
Micro-dissection of Enamel Organ from Mandibular Incisor of Rats Exposed to Environmental Toxicants
Published on: March 29, 2018
Maternal Dental Anxiety and its Effect on Caries Experience Among Children in Udaipur, India
Shabnam Gulzar Khawja1, Ruchi Arora2, Altaf Hussain Shah3
1PG Student, Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Darshan Dental College and Hospital , Loyra, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India .
Context:
Dental caries is a common oral disease among children. There are various factors that influence caries development. Parents and family environment influence oral health behaviours among children. Dental Anxiety is a common hindrance in seeking dental treatment. Mothers' dental anxiety may act as a barrier to seek professional advice about their children's caries experience.
Aim:
To evaluate dental anxiety among mothers and its possible relationship with caries experience in their children in Udaipur city, India.
Setting And Design:
The sample was selected from those attending Darshan Dental College and Hospital, Udaipur for dental treatment. The study period was from June 2014 to November 2014.
Materials And Methods:
A cross-sectional survey was designed. A total of 187 mother-child pairs were recruited for the study. The children's age ranged from 3-14 years. Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS), Hindi version, was used to evaluate dental anxiety among the mothers that categorizes the dental anxiety into five levels. Demographic detail such as age, educational level, and family income was also collected. The World Health Organization (WHO) criteria was utilized for the diagnosis of dental caries in children. DMFT (Decayed, missing and filled teeth) and DMFS (Decayed, missing and filled surfaces) scores were then calculated.
Statistical Analysis:
Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 was used to interpret data. Maternal anxiety scores taken as mean MDAS were compared with various independent variables. Statistical tests were used to compare maternal anxiety and children's caries experience. A p value equal or less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.
Results:
Almost half (49.7%) of the mothers reported as being 'fairly anxious' or 'very anxious'. There was a significant (p=.001) difference in maternal dental anxiety level in relation to age of the children. Mothers of younger children reported higher anxiety scores. Similarly, mothers with lesser education and lesser family income reported higher anxiety scores. The mean decayed score in children of very anxious mothers and phobic mothers was significantly (p=.001) higher as compared to the children of the mothers with lower anxiety levels.
Conclusion:
There was a strong positive association between maternal dental anxiety and children's dental caries experience.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota
01:21Tooth Anatomy
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or...
01:15Teeth
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...
01:26Assessment of the Mouth
Mouth Inspection
The inspection begins with visually examining the mouth for symmetry, color, and size.