Exploring Preschoolers' Emotions in Pediatric Dentistry

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dentistry
• Child Psychology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Emotions significantly influence children's dental treatment outcomes.
• Understanding child emotions is crucial for successful dental care.
• Facial expressions and behavior are key indicators of children's feelings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the emotional variables experienced by preschool children during dental treatment.
• To investigate the relationship between age, gender, and emotions in a pediatric dental setting.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive analysis was performed on 58 preschool children (aged 3-6) at the Bandung Dental Center.
• Data collected using a 7-item questionnaire (adapted from children's fear survey scale-dental subscale).
• Children's emotional responses were recorded using facial expression cards (Facial Expression Emotion Scale).

Main Results:

• Four-year-olds exclusively reported happy emotions.
• Fear emerged in 5- and 6-year-old girls; anger appeared in 5-year-old girls.
• Boys did not report fear, while girls reported fear and sadness more frequently.

Conclusions:

• Happy emotions were prevalent, but fear and sadness were linked to invasive procedures.
• Parental encouragement to attend dental appointments was associated with anger.
• Emotional responses varied by age and gender, highlighting the need for tailored dental approaches.