Çocuklarda Dental Anksiyete: Çürük Deneyimi, Periodontal Durum ve Annelerin Dental Anksiyetesi ile İlişkisi

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, 6–12 yaş arası çocuklarda dental anksiyete ile diş çürüğü deneyimi, periodontal sağlık ve annelerin dental anksiyetesi arasındaki ilişkinin değerlendirilmesidir. Materyal ve Metot: Çalışmaya 185 çocuk ve onlara eşlik eden ebeveyn/vasileri dahil edildi. Çocuklara ağız içi muayene yapılarak Çürük, Kayıp ve Dolgulu Diş İndeksi (DMFT/dmft) ile Plak İndeksi (PI) ve Gingival İndeks (GI) değerlendirildi. Klinik muayene sonrasında çocuklar Children’s Fear Survey Schedule–Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS) ölçeğini doldurdu. Anneler ise sosyoekonomik durum anketi ve Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) ölçeğini tamamladı. Çocuklarda dental anksiyeteyi etkileyen faktörlerin belirlenmesi amacıyla lojistik regresyon analizi uygulandı. Bulgular: Ortalama CFSS-DS puanı 26,88 ± 8,47 olarak bulundu. Otuz üç çocukta dental anksiyete saptandı ve CFSS-DS’de en yüksek puanlanan ilk üç madde sırasıyla enjeksiyon korkusu, diş hekiminin diş temizleme aleti ve diş hekimi korkusuydu. Katılımcılar dental anksiyete grubu (DA) ve dental anksiyetesi olmayan grup (non-DA) olarak sınıflandırıldığında; yaş (p=0,03), DMFT/dmft (p<0,001), PI (p=0,01), GI (p<0,001) ve gingivit görülme oranı (p<0,001) açısından gruplar arasında anlamlı fark bulundu. Annelerin dental anksiyetesi ise gruplar arasında farklılık göstermedi (p=0,448). Lojistik regresyon analizine göre, çocuklarda dental anksiyete üzerinde en etkili faktörün dmft/DMFT (OR=1,116; %95 GA=1,01–1,23; p=0,031) olduğu belirlendi. Sonuç: Çocuklarda yüksek çürük deneyimi, dental anksiyete gelişme olasılığını anlamlı şekilde artırmakta olup, bu durum daha kötü plak birikimi ile daha yüksek gingivitis oranlarıyla birlikte görülmektedir. Bu bulgular, ağız sağlığının korunması ve iyileştirilmesi amacıyla dental anksiyetenin erken çocukluk döneminde ele alınmasının önemini vurgulamaktadır.

Keywords

• Çocuklar
• dental anksiyete
• diş çürüğü

Dental Anxiety in Children: Associations with Caries Experience, Periodontal Status, and Maternal Anxiety

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between dental anxiety, dental caries, periodontal health, and maternal dental anxiety in children aged 6-12 years. Materials and Methods: A total of 185 children and their accompanying mothers participated in this study. The children had an oral examination utilizing the Decayed, Missing, and Filled teeth (DMFT) Index as well as the Plaque Index (PI) and the Gingival Index (GI). After the oral examination, the children completed the Children's Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS). The mothers completed a socioeconomic questionnaire and Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS). A logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the factors influencing dental anxiety in children. Results: The mean CFSS-DS score of the children was 26.88 ± 8.47 points. Thirty-three children exhibited dental anxiety, and the top 3 items with the highest CFSS-DS scores were fear of injections, the dentist’s drilling, and the dentist. When participants were divided into the Dental Anxiety group and the non-Dental Anxiety group, significant differences were observed in age (p=0.03), DMFT/dmft (p<0.001), PI (p=0.01), GI (p<0.001), and the gingivitis rate (p<0.001). MDAS value did not differ between the groups (p=0.448). According to the logistic regression analysis, dmft/DMFT (OR = 1.116, 95% CI=1.01-1.23, p=0.031) values were found to be the most effective factors on dental anxiety in children. Conclusion: Higher caries experience significantly increased the likelihood of dental anxiety in children, accompanied by worse plaque, gingival status, and gingivitis rates. These findings underscore the importance of addressing dental anxiety early in childhood to promote oral health.

Keywords

• Children
• dental anxiety
• dental caries

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