Some characteristics of children with dental behaviour problems. Five-year follow-up of pedodontic treatment.

The aim of the study was to find out how 146 children with dental fear, aged 3-13 years and referred to a Pedodontic Clinic during 1 year, accepted dental treatment after five years. The main background variables causing dental fear were social factors in 45%, personality factors in 29%, and previous negative experience in 26%. Caries incidence was high in 71% of the patients. Most patients received up to three training sessions with the "tell-show-do" method. Conventional treatment was given in 48%, 25% needed conscious sedation, and 27%, were treated under general anaesthesia. Significantly more children with low caries incidence were treated conventionally. After five years, 78% of the children showed good acceptance of conventional dental treatment while 18% received conscious sedation and 4% general anaesthesia. Significantly more children referred at the age of 3-8 years showed good cooperation than did the older children. Good acceptance was also found significantly more often when conventional treatment had been given. Caries incidence had decreased in 41% and increased in 6% of the patients. The patients who continue to show negative acceptance should receive special attention in an attempt to change their attitude to dentistry in positive direction.