Journal of International Psychiatry

[Abstract] Objective To investigate the incidence of dental fear in children before fixed orthodontic treatment and its influence on treatment compliance and oral health quality of life. Methods Ninety children with dental malformations in our hospital from January 2020 to January 2022 were included in this study. Venham Clinical Anxiety and Cooperative Behavior Rating Scale (Venham) was used to evaluate pediatric dental fear before oral fixation treatment, and was set as dental fear group and control group. The treatment compliance and oral health life quality of the two groups were compared. Results Thirty six of 90 school age children with dental and maxillofacial deformities had dental fear, and the average score of Venham scale was (3.15 ± 0.30). The total scores of interpersonal relationship, self-consciousness, initiative, self-discipline, passive resistance and compliance in the dental fear group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The total scores of functions, oral cavity, social emotion, school environment, self-image and oral health quality of life in the dental fear group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Dental fear is higher in children before fixed orthodontic treatment. Dental fear will reduce the compliance of fixed orthodontic treatment and oral health quality of life.

Key words Children; Fixed orthodontics; Dental fear; Treatment compliance; Oral Health Quality of Life