Dental behaviour management problems and associated factors in Brazilian children

To identify factors associated with negative child behaviour in the dental setting.

A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 324 mother-child pairs (children aged 3 to 12 years) seen at a university clinic in Canoas, southern Brazil. Mother's anxiety was measured using the Beck Anxiety Inventory. Oral examinations were performed to determine caries experience (dmft/DMFT index) in the mothers and children. Child behaviour was evaluated at six moments of the dental visit using the Frankl scale. Statistical analysis involved Poisson regression with robust variance.

The prevalence of negative child behaviour was 9.3%, with a greater frequency among younger children, those with no previous use of dental services and those whose mothers exhibited a moderate to severe level of anxiety. The multivariable analysis demonstrated that the probability of negative behaviour was 2.4-fold greater among children who had not previous dental services attendance (PR = 2.37, 95% CI:1.13-4.95; p=0.022) and 3.1-fold greater among those whose mothers had a moderate to severe level of anxiety (PR = 3.08, 95% CI:1.64-5.75; p<0.001).

Mother's anxiety, younger age and no previous history of visiting a dentist are associated with negative behaviour during a dental appointment and therefore merit special attention.