EVALUATION OF DENTAL ANXIETY IN A 4-12 YEARS OLD CHILDREN SAMPLE

The study aim was to assess the level of dental anxiety in a group of children aged 4-12 years and to identify the factors associated with them. Materials and methods. The study was conducted on a sample of 70 children that were asked to complete the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale (faces) (MCDASf) questionnaire The children's dental behaviour was assessed using the Frankl's behavioral rating scale. Results. A cumulative distribution was observed for the negative behavior of children (Frankl <= 2) in equal percentages between the two genders. The results of the Frankl behavioral rating scale were relatively correlated, with reduced statistical significance with the children gender (r = 0.294, p <0.05). There was a statistically significant and reversed proportional high correlation bteween the Frankl scale and the global value of MCDASf (r = -0.791, p <0.01). Conclusions. Anxiety in pediatric dentistry is a phenomenon that affects all age groups investigated by us, and requires a correct and complex approach from an early age.