Analysis and Consideration of Factors for Predicting Cooperation Levels in Pediatric Dentistry
10.5933/JKAPD.2024.51.3.229
- Author:
Soomin LIM
1
;
Namki CHOI
;
Seonmi KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:
Journal of Korean Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
2024;51(3):229-244
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
This study aimed to evaluate various factors related to cooperation levels in pediatric dentistry and determine their correlation with children’s cooperation during dental treatments. This study included one hundred children and their guardians who visited the dental hospital at the Chonnam National University. Children and their guardians completed surveys regarding dental fear, dental caries experience, dental treatment experience, temperament, and guardians’ dental anxiety, as well as the background characteristics of the children. Based on these data, factors associated with children’s cooperation during dental treatment were investigated. Dental fear, caries experience during the primary and mixed dentition stages, and temperament traits such as shyness and negative emotionality significantly impacted children’s cooperation during dental visits, with higher levels of these factors corresponding to lower cooperation. The extent of dental experience also modestly influenced children’ s cooperation, with higher levels of cooperation observed in children with greater dental experience. Additionally, children’s dental fear was strongly correlated with guardians’ dental anxiety, increasing as guardians’ anxiety levels increased. Twelve-year-old children exhibited significantly lower levels of dental fear compared to other age groups, and regardless of cooperation levels, injections (shots) were identified as the primary factor inducing dental fear among the children. To improve children’ s cooperation in pediatric dentistry, strategies should focus on alleviating their fears and adopting an individualized approach that consider their oral health status and temperamental traits.
