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

Year 2026, Volume: 11 Issue: 1, 80 - 87, 15.03.2026

Neslihan Yılmaz , Esra Ceren Tuğutlu , Gülbahar Gül

https://doi.org/10.26453/otjhs.1868595

https://izlik.org/JA33LY29RC

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

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışma, Sakarya Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Klinik Araştırma Etik Kurulu tarafından onaylanmıştır (Tarih: 20.02.2025, karar no. 88). Çalışma, Helsinki Bildirgesi'ne uygun olarak ve iyi klinik uygulama ilkelerine riayet edilerek yürütülmüştür.

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

https://izlik.org/JA33LY29RC

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

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Sakarya University Faculty of Medicine Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Date: 20.02.2025, decision no. 88). The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and followed principles of good clinical practice.

References

• 1. Peng R, Liu L, Peng Y, Li J, Mao T. A study on related factors affecting dental fear in preschool children. J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2024;48(1):184-190. doi:10.22514/JOCPD.2024.020/HTM
• 2. Sun IG, Chu CH, Lo ECM, Duangthip D. Global prevalence of early childhood dental fear and anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Dent. 2024;142:104841. doi:10.1016/J.JDENT.2024.104841
• 3. Grisolia BM, Dos Santos APP, Dhyppolito IM, Buchanan H, Hill K, Oliveira BH. Prevalence of dental anxiety in children and adolescents globally: A systematic review with meta-analyses. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2021;31(2):168-183. doi:10.1111/IPD.12712
• 4. Silveira ER, Cademartori MG, Schuch HS, Armfield JA, Demarco FF. Estimated prevalence of dental fear in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Dent. 2021;108:103632. doi:10.1016/J.JDENT.2021.103632
• 5. Ying J, Tao H, He Q, Yan Y, Zhao Y. Children’s dental fear: occurrence mechanism and prevention guidance. J Multidiscip Healthc. 2023;16:2013-2021. doi:10.2147/JMDH.S412412
• 6. Šimunović L, Špiljak B, Radulović M, et al. Relationship between children’s and parents’ dental anxiety: a cross-sectional study on the six European countries. Dent J (Basel). 2022;10(11):209. doi:10.3390/dj10110209
• 7. Themessl-Huber M, Freeman R, Humphris G, MacGillivray S, Terzi N. Empirical evidence of the relationship between parental and child dental fear: a structured review and meta-analysis. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2010;20(2):83-101. doi:10.1111/j.1365-263x.2009.00998.x
• 8. Uzel İ, Aydınel B, Topaloğlu Ak A. Evaluation of the risk factors of dental anxiety in children. J Pediatr Res. 2022;9(2):99-104. doi:10.4274/jpr.galenos.2022.79990
• 9. Wu L, Gao X. Children’s dental fear and anxiety: exploring family related factors. BMC Oral Health. 2018;18(1):100. doi:10.1186/s12903-018-0553-z
• 10. Paiva ACF, Rabelo-Costa D, Fernandes IB, et al. The relationship between temperament and dental fear and anxiety: a systematic review. Evid Based Dent. 2023;24(1):42. doi:10.1038/s41432-023-00852-0
• 11. Vanhee T, Mourali S, Bottenberg P, Jacquet W, Vanden Abbeele A. Stimuli involved in dental anxiety: what are patients afraid of?: a descriptive study. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2020;30(3):276-285. doi:10.1111/ipd.12595
• 12. Soares FC, Lima RA, Salvador DM, de Barros MVG, Dahllöf G, Colares V. Reciprocal longitudinal relationship between dental fear and oral health in schoolchildren. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2020;30(3):286-292. doi:10.1111/ipd.12598
• 13. Ramos-Jorge ML, Marques LS, Pavia SM, Serra-Negra JM, Pordeus IA. Predictive factors for child behaviour in the dental environment. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent. 2006;7(4):253-257. doi:10.1007/BF03262561
• 14. Barry M, Alnami M, Alshobaili YT, Felemban OM, Sabbagh HJ. Assessment of dental fear and anxiety tools for children: a review. Healthcare (Basel). 2025;13(20):2597. doi:10.3390/healthcare13202597
• 15. Hegazi F, Alghamdi N, Alhajri D, et al. Association between dental fear and children’s oral health-related quality of life. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024;21(9):1195. doi:10.3390/ijerph21091195
• 16. Huang J, Sun J, Ji Y, Chen C, Yang Z, Zhao H. Analysis of factors influencing delayed treatment seeking for dental caries in preschool children: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2025;25(1):1669. doi:10.1186/s12889-025-22936-5
• 17. Besiroglu-Turgut E, Kayaalti-Yuksek S, Bulut M. Evaluation of the relationship between dental anxiety and oral health status of mothers and their children. BMC Oral Health. 2024;24(1):749. doi:10.1186/s12903-024-04530-0
• 18. Eric J, Davidovic B, Mladenovic R, et al. Prevalence of dental fear and its association with oral health status among school children in Bosnia and Herzegovina: a cross-sectional study. Medicina (Kaunas). 2025;61(1):55. doi:10.3390/medicina61010055
• 19. Silness J, Löe H. Periodontal disease in pregnancy II. Correlation between oral hygiene and periodontal condition. Acta Odontol Scand. 1964;22(1):121-135. doi:10.3109/00016356408993968
• 20. Löe H. The gingival index, the plaque index and the retention index systems. J Periodontol. 1967;38(6):610-616. doi:10.1902/jop.1967.38.6.610
• 21. Chapple ILC, Mealey BL, Van Dyke TE, et al. Periodontal health and gingival diseases and conditions on an intact and a reduced periodontium: consensus report of workgroup 1 of the 2017 World Workshop on the Classification of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases and Conditions. J Periodontol. 2018;89(Suppl 1):S74-S84.doi:10.1002/JPER.17-0719
• 22. Sert T, Akbay Oba A, Arıkan V, Şahin ND. 7-15 yaş arası çocuklarda dental anksiyete sıklığı ve ebeveynlerin anksiyetesi ile ilişkisi. J Inonu Univ Vocat Sch Health Serv. 2020;8(1):36-45. doi:10.33715/inonusaglik.706293
• 23. Tunc EP, Firat D, Onur OD, Sar V. Reliability and validity of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in a Turkish population. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2005;33(5):357-362. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0528.2005.00229.x
• 24. Rath S, Das D, Sahoo SK, Raj A, Guddala NR, Rathee G. Childhood dental fear in children aged 7-11 years old by using the Children’s Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale. J Med Life. 2021;14(1):45-49. doi:10.25122/JML-2020-0084
• 25. Shindova MP, Belcheva AB. Dental fear and anxiety in children: a review of the environmental factors. Folia Med (Plovdiv). 2021;63(2):177-182. doi:10.3897/folmed.63.e54763
• 26. Srinivasan D, Senthil D, Eagappan ARS, Rajesh P, Prakash KS, Shanmugavadivel G. Evaluation of the mother’s anxiety and child’s fear in two different age groups in the child’s first and second dental visit. Indian J Dent Res. 2022;33(2):126-129. doi:10.4103/ijdr.IJDR_256_20
• 27. Freeman R. A fearful child attends: a psychoanalytic explanation of children’s responses to dental treatment. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2007;17(6):407-418. doi:10.1111/j.1365-263x.2007.00871.x
• 28. Chakradhar K, Doshi D, Kulkarni S, Reddy BS, Reddy MP, Srilatha A. Correlation of dental anxiety with oral health status and treatment needs among 12-year-old Indian school-going children. Acta Biomed. 2020;91(4):e2020095. doi:10.23750/abm.v91i4.8682