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Demystifying behaviour and dental anxiety in schoolchildren during endodontic treatment for primary teeth-controlled
Josiane Pezzini Soares1, Mariane Cardoso1, Michele Bolan1
1Department of Paediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil.
Background:
Behaviour and anxiety of children are predictors of effective dental treatment.
Aim:
Compare the behaviour and anxiety during preventive care, endodontic treatment, and dental extraction.
Design:
Controlled clinical trial was conducted with 99 children aged 6-9 years. The children were distributed among three groups: G1 (control)-prophylaxis and topical fluoride; G2 (intervention)-endodontic treatment; and G3 (intervention)-tooth extraction. Behaviour was measured using the Frankl scale. Dental anxiety was assessed using the modified Venham Picture Test and measured at three moments: before, during, and after the procedure. Caregivers answered a questionnaire addressing the child's previous dental experience. Clinical examinations were performed by a calibrated examiner (Kappa > 0.70) for the identification of dental caries (d-dmft/D-DMFT). Statistical analysis involved repeated-measures Poisson regression, with level of significance was P < 0.05.
Results:
Neither negative behaviour nor anxiety was associated with the type of procedure. Negative behaviour was associated with the need for restraint during a previous dental appointment (P = 0.012). Dental anxiety was associated with age (P = 0.037), previous difficult behaviour (P < 0.001), moment of measurement (P < 0.001), and dental caries on permanent teeth (P = 0.001).
Conclusions:
Negative behaviour and dental anxiety in children were not associated with the type of treatment performed.
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