1. Association Between Childhood Traumatic Stress and Behavior in the Pediatric Dental Clinic.
- Author
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Mitchual S, da Fonseca MA, Raja S, Weatherspoon D, and Koerber A
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Age Factors, Chicago, Child, Child, Preschool, Dental Clinics, Female, Humans, Male, Oral Hygiene, Surveys and Questionnaires, Child Behavior, Dental Anxiety, Dental Care psychology
- 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.
- Published
- 2017