Behavioral Patterns Toward Preventive Dental Care at School Dental Camps: An Observational Study in Bengaluru

Background Dental behavior management problems of children towards preventive dental care at school dental camps in India remain largely undocumented. This study aimed to assess such behavior patterns in preschool and school-age children at a school dental health camp. Materials and methods The cross-sectional study included 462 children, with 261 children each in the preschool (three to five years old) and school (six to 12 years old) age groups in Bengaluru. On the school dental camp day, their behavior and anxiety were gauged using the Frankl Behavior Rating Scale and the Raghavendra, Madhuri, and Sujata Pictorial Scale, respectively. The Chi-square test was used to uncover predictive variables for children's behavior patterns toward preventive dental procedures at the dental school camps. Results A high prevalence of definitely negative Frankl Behavior Rating Scale ratings (59%, n=272) and dental anxiety (53%, n=245) were noted among the participants. Age, sex, the area of residence of the child, and the previous history of dental visits and treatment were predictors of their behavior at a school dental camp setup. Conclusion The present study gives an insight into the behavior of children towards preventive dental care at a school dental camp in a mobile dental van, stressing the need for behavior assessment before the treatment.