Factors associated with dental anxiety in Brazilian children during the first transitional period of the mixed dentition

Aims: To determine the prevalence of dental anxiety in children during the first transitional period of the mixed dentition and associated factors. Methods: A Cross-sectional study was performed with 1367 children of both genders aged 6–7 years old conducted in schools in Recife, Brazil in 2013. The data were collected through interviews and intra-oral examinations. Dental anxiety data were obtained using the dental anxiety questionnaire (DAQ). The associated factors considered were: age, gender, social group, child’s experience with the dentist, history of dental pain, experience of caries and phase of exfoliation. Results: The prevalence of children with some level of dental anxiety was 54.4%. Visit to the dentist and social group were associated with dental anxiety (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The prevalence of dental anxiety was high, although children attending private schools and those who had visited the dentist before had a lower prevalence of dental anxiety. © 2016, European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry.