Validity of the Children's Dental Fear Picture test (CDFP).

The validity of the Children's Dental Fear Picture test (CDFP) was investigated in 146 Swedish children aged 5-12 yr. The CDFP was compared with dental fear scores on Children's Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS), selection criteria for testings (dentally fearful/not dentally fearful), and with level of general fear measured by the Short Form of Children's Fear Survey Schedule (CFSS-SF). Dental fear in the CDFP was closely related to high scores on CFSS-DS and CFSS-SF. The CDFP proved to be a valid instrument to diagnose dental fear in children with values of sensitivity up to 98.5%.