Dental anxiety in children and its relationship to dental caries and gingival condition.

The aim of this study was to determine the levels of dental anxiety, dental caries and gingivitis among 12-15-year-old schoolchildren, in Irbid Governorate/northern Jordan, and to evaluate the correlation between these variables. Two schools were selected by a simple random method from each of the five geographic areas in Irbid Governorate. All children (1021), from the 10 selected schools, who participated in this study completed a questionnaire modified from Kleinknecht's Dental Fear Survey (DFS questionnaire). Children underwent oral examination for dental caries and gingival condition, using Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth (DMFT) Index and Löe and Silness Gingival Index (GI), respectively. Results of this survey showed that the prevalence of low to moderate 'general dental fear' among the study population was 43% while that of 'high dental fear' was 10%. The self-reported 'general fear of dental treatment' was higher among girls than boys. Fear of specific stimuli (pain) was the most common source of dental fear. The sight and sensation of the anaesthetic needle and the sight, sound and sensation of the drill were rated the most fear-eliciting stimuli. The mean DMFT (2.89) and GI (1.80) of boys was not significantly different from the DMFT (3.37) and GI (1.53) of girls (P > 0.05). Spearman's correlation test demonstrated no association between 'general dental fear' and dental caries (r = 0.06) or gingivitis (r = 0.007).