FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH DENTAL FEARS AND ANXIETY IN CHILDREN

1. Consultant Endodontist, Member of the scientific council, Saudi Board of Endodontics, Swedish board in Endodontics, Fellowship in Endodontic Microsurgery, Jeddah Specialty Dental Centre, Ministry of Health. 2. Medicinae Baccalaureus Baccalaureus Chirurgiae, bn Sina National College, KSA (Postal Address: Jjeddah, AlThaghr neighbourhood., 22338. ...................................................................................................................... Manuscript Info Abstract ......................... ........................................................................ Manuscript History Received: 20 November 2019 Final Accepted: 23 December 2019 Published: January 2020


Aim:
The assessment the factors associated with dental fears and anxiety in children.
The Sub-Objectives:- 1. To determine the most common age suffer from dental fears and anxiety in children. 2. To determine the most common factors associated with dental fears.

Study design:
Cross sectional study.

Study area:
This study will be conducted in kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Study setting:
The study will be carried out by questionnaire.

Study population: General children population (IP and OP)
Inclusion criteria: Children.

Data Collection Methods:-
Data collection tool: Self-administered questionnaire partially constructed by the researcher with reference to already made questionnaire in another study. Validity will be checked by at consultant.

Data collection technique:
The researcher will distribute the questionnaire.

Study sample and technique: Sample size: 300
Sample technique: Questionnaire.

Data entry and statistical analysis:
The data will be entered into a personal computer and it will be analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).

Results:-
Questionnaire for factors associated with dental fears and anxiety in children. 883 responses were collected showing the following results and conclusion :

Discussion:-
This study was based on a number of 883 participants, from this study as the number of females is 516 and males is 367 and ,119 of them have a big frear of the dentist himself which is considering as unhealthy sign.Also , 228 of them have a big frear of the injections . The current study showed statistically significant (P value is 0.000) Which means that there is a strong relationship between the age and the level of fear of the dentist himself, and this means that the patient's age affects the level of fear of doctors, (P value is 0.002) Which means that there is a strong relationship between the gender and the level of fear of the dentist himself, and this means that the patient's gender affects the level of fear of doctors.
(P value is 0.024) Which means that there is a strong relationship between the age and the level of fear of putting instruments in mouth, and this means that the patient's age affects the level of fear of putting instruments in mouth, ( P value is 0.004) Which means that there is a strong relationship between the age and the level of fear of going to the hospital, and this means that the patient's age affects the level of fear of going to the hospital.

Conclusion:-
1. Through the questionnaire it was found that injection and needles are one of the most important factors that may cause children to fear dental and doctors. 2. Also , putting doctor's tools in the mouth may cause children to fear the doctors and the hospitals. But the results showed that children are not afraid of any people wearing white uniform in hospitals.

Recommendation:-
we recommend setting up health education programs about the dental fears and anxiety in children, this problem must be presented broadly and beneficially and, in a way, that everyone understands, as most deal with the dental fears and anxiety in children by ignoring and not being important, work should be done on health conferences and medical discussions on that.