Assessment of the Feelings and Attitudes of Children towards Their Dentist and Their Association with Oral Health

This study assessed the feelings and attitudes of children toward their dentists and their association with oral health. Methods. A questionnaire designed to evaluate the attitudes of children toward dentists and preferences was completed by 200 children and their families. In addition, the children were examined and the World Health Organization (WHO) method was used to obtain dmft and DMFT scores. Results. The mean dmft and DMFT scores were and , respectively. Of the children, 92.5% reported that they had visited a dentist before. Of the children who had visited dentists, approximately 71.5% reported that they enjoyed their visits. Of the children, 84% preferred female dentists, 76.5% preferred dentists that wore a colored coat, and 63% preferred a decorated dental clinic over a plain clinic. The mean dmft and DMFT values of children who were afraid of dentists were significantly higher than those of children who were not ( and , resp.). Conclusion. Children have strong perceptions and preferences regarding the appearance of their dentists and dental clinics. The results of this study might help dentists to improve their delivery of care. 1. Introduction In dental practice, most children do not cooperate during dental procedures and sometimes it is very difficult to manage a child in a dental clinic. These management difficulties are related not only to the technical procedures involved, but also to the different emotional upsets experienced by children. The most common emotional upsets seen during dental treatment are anxiety and fear, which might originate from a previous traumatic experience in the dental office or during hospitalization for other reasons [1, 2]. Dental anxiety and fear of dental treatment in children are recognized in many countries as a public health dilemma [3]. The terms dental fear and dental anxiety are often used synonymously [4] and are considered to be the main reason for behavior management problems and avoidance of dental care [5]. These problems sometimes require replacement of conventional treatment with more complicated alternatives, such as sedation or general anesthesia [6]. Surveys indicate that 5-6% of the population and 16% of school-age children fear dentists [7]. Indeed, children with active caries are more afraid than other children due to negative treatment experiences [8]. Alvesalo et al. reported that boys with a DMFT score ≥1 had a significantly higher mean dental fear than those who were caries-free [9]. It is important for dentists to establish a friendly relationship with patients, especially children,