Objective: The aim of this study was to develop the Turkish version of the Index of Dental Anxiety and Fear (IDAF-4C+) and also to explore factors associated with dental anxiety in clinical pediatric dental patients (PDPs). Study Design: The study sample consisted of 421 PDPs aged 12–14, 104 of whom were selected for test-retest analysis. The psychometric evaluation included linguistic validity, exploratory factor analysis, reliability by internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and test-retest reliability (intra-class correlation coefficient, ICC). Construct validity was tested by comparing a commonly used instrument, the Children's Fear Survey Schedule Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS). Associations between parental dental anxiety, frequency of dental visits, dental caries, dental visit behaviour and children's dental anxiety were also examined. Results: The Turkish version of the IDAF-4C demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha α=.96) and test-retest reliability (ICC=.87). Factor analysis showed a fit IDAF-4C model with a single factor, 8 items. Dental anxiety scores were significantly correlated with all measured variables (p<0.001). Girls showed significantly higher dental anxiety scores than boys (p<0.05). Conclusions: This study suggests that the Turkish version of the IDAF-4C+ is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing dental anxiety and fear in Turkish children.

İstanbul Üniversitesi | Tarihten Geleceğe Bilim Köprüsü - 1453

Purpose: The aim of this qualitative study was to identify the conceptions of dentists and dental students (DSs) about pediatric dental patients (PDPs) using metaphor analysis. Study Design: The study group (N = 259) consisted of dentists and DSs. Participants completed the sentence “A pediatric dental patient is like ... because …...” in order to reveal the metaphors they use about the concept of PDPs. The data were analyzed using the mixed-methods: qualitative (metaphor analysis) and quantitative (chi-square) data analysis techniques. Results: The dentists and DSs produced 259 metaphors. These metaphors were gathered under six different conceptual categories that define a PDP as unpredictable, dangerous, uncontrollable, requiring care and sensitivity, valuable, and orientable. The most important factors leading to these conceptions were the uncooperativeness of some PDPs and the effectiveness of behavior management. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that there was no significant difference among DSs, general dentists and specialist dentists with respect to six conceptual categories that identify the conceptions about PDPs.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of virtual reality (VR) on dental anxiety, pain, and behaviour at different time points among children undergoing dental treatment under local anaesthesia. Material and Methods: This randomised, two‐armed, within-subject, cross-over, placebo-controlled trial included 76 children. Eligible participants were treated in two dental visits using the following methods: with protective glasses only, without distraction (attention placebo-controlled - APC); and with the treatment condition (i.e., VR). Primary outcomes were dental anxiety and pain; secondary outcome was dental visit behaviour. Heart rate scores were recorded as an objective measure to evaluate dental anxiety and pain. Subjective measurements for each variable were also performed. Results: Significant reduction in dental pain and anxiety was observed in the VR group, according to the heart rate scores; however, no statistical differences were observed according to the self-reported measures. Decreased dental anxiety and pain were associated with the first visit sequence with VR. Dental pain and anxiety scores were lower during local anaesthesia in the VR group than in the APC group. Conclusion: Virtual reality significantly reduced pain and anxiety during local anaesthesia in children undergoing dental treatment; therefore, it may be recommended during dental treatment in school-age children.