Evaluation of Relationship between the Children’s Dental Fear with the Parental State-Trait Anxiety

Children’s dental fear is one of the most important challenges that pediatric dentistry faces. Several factors play an important role in children’s dental fear. Home quarantine, changes in routine life and economic disadvantages have resulted in emotional changes in parents and children during COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study is to evaluate the levels of children’s dental fear, parental anxiety and their possible correlation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The present cross-sectional study comprised one hundred and four children aged 6-12-year-old and their parents. The level of parental anxiety was evaluated using Spielberger state-trait anxiety inventory. CFSS-DS (Children Fear Schedule Survey-Dental Subscale) questionnaire assessed the child’s dental fear. Independent t-test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficient were used for data analysis.

There were significant correlations between the level of parent’s state and trait anxiety and child’s dental fear (respectively P value=0.009 and P value=0.000). However girls showed insignificant higher levels of dental fear compared with boys (P value=0.175), children younger than 9 years old and children with a previous dental treatment had significantly higher dental fear scores (respectively P value=0.006 and P value=0.002). Age, gender and level of education did not show a significant effect on the level of parental anxiety (respectively P value=0.630, P value=0.874 and P value=0.198).

The study has resulted in a significant correlation between parental state-trait anxiety and children’s dental fear.