European archives of paediatric dentistry : official journal of the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry
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Eur Arch Paediatr Dent · Apr 2020
Does previous dental care experience make the child less anxious? An evaluation of anxiety and fear of pain.
Evidence has shown an inverse correlation between previous dental care experience and anxiety levels in children. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of dental anxiety in Brazilian schoolchildren and to evaluate the association between previous experience with the dentist and anxiety and fear of pain. ⋯ The experience with the dentist was associated with less anxiety and fear of pain. The age of the child was a determining factor for changes in their anxiety level. Severe dental anxiety influences fear of pain experienced by the child.