Serena Mitchual1, Marcio A da Fonseca2, Sheela Raja3, Darien Weatherspoon4, Anne Koerber5. 1. Pediatric dentist in private practice, Phoenix, Ari., USA. 2. Associate professor and head, in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, in the College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Ill., USA;, Email: marcio@uic.edu. 3. Associate professor, in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, in the College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Ill., USA. 4. Assistant professor, in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, in the College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Ill., USA. 5. Professor, Department of Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, in the College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Ill., USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between a history of potentially traumatic events (PTE) and a child's behavior during dental treatment. METHODS: Parents of healthy children, age four years and older and attending their initial dental appointment at a university pediatric dental clinic, were asked to complete the Traumatic Events Screening Inventory-Parent Report Revised and a demographic survey. Following the dental appointment, a pediatric dental resident reported the child's behavior using the Frankl scale. RESULTS: A total of 170 parent-child pairs participated; 53 percent of parents indicated their child had experienced at least one PTE; 44 percent reported their child had a prior negative experience at the dentist. Adjusted multivariable logistic regression analysis showed no significant association between PTE history and poor dental behavior (P=0.994), but a significant association was observed between a previous negative dental experience and poor dental behavior (P=0.000) as well as between age (younger than five years old) and poor behavior (P=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Children with a history of potentially traumatic events did not exhibit uncooperative behavior more often than those who did not. A previous negative dental experience and the child's young age were significantly associated with uncooperative behavior.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between a history of potentially traumatic events (PTE) and a child's behavior during dental treatment. METHODS: Parents of healthy children, age four years and older and attending their initial dental appointment at a university pediatric dental clinic, were asked to complete the Traumatic Events Screening Inventory-Parent Report Revised and a demographic survey. Following the dental appointment, a pediatric dental resident reported the child's behavior using the Frankl scale. RESULTS: A total of 170 parent-child pairs participated; 53 percent of parents indicated their child had experienced at least one PTE; 44 percent reported their child had a prior negative experience at the dentist. Adjusted multivariable logistic regression analysis showed no significant association between PTE history and poor dental behavior (P=0.994), but a significant association was observed between a previous negative dental experience and poor dental behavior (P=0.000) as well as between age (younger than five years old) and poor behavior (P=0.006). CONCLUSIONS:Children with a history of potentially traumatic events did not exhibit uncooperative behavior more often than those who did not. A previous negative dental experience and the child's young age were significantly associated with uncooperative behavior.