Journal of Disability and Oral Health

cover art

Cover Date:
March 2012
Print ISSN:
1470-855
Vol:
13
Issue:
1

Measuring dental anxiety in children with complex and additional support needs using the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale (faces) (MCDASf)

DOI: 10.4483/JDOH_001Turner08

Abstract Aim and objectives: A Dental Playbox has been developed to reduce dental anxiety among children with complex and additional support needs. The aim of this paper was to examine the level of agreement between parents and children in relation to dental anxiety using the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale (faces) (MCDASf) and a parental proxy (CFSS-DS), and to assess whether agreement levels were influenced by exposure to the Dental Playbox materials. Methodology: Children were selected as part of a post-intervention evaluation study. Teachers identified children similar in age and ability level, who had and had not taken part in the intervention. Questionnaires were sent to parents (n=220), and with their consent, questionnaires were also administered to their children as a classroom exercise (n=47). In total, 47 parent-child dyads were available for analysis. The questionnaires included measures of child dental anxiety, experience of invasive and non-invasive dental procedures, anxiety level at the child’s last dental visit, and child’s age. Results: Mean scores on parent and child measures of child dental anxiety were not significantly different. This also applied to those exposed to the intervention and those who were not, with the exception of items relating to non-invasive procedures. Correlations between child and parent scores were approximately r=0.3, with agreement stronger among families of intervention children. Conclusions: Reliable measurement of dental anxiety can be obtained from children with complex and additional support needs, using appropriate scales, particularly when families have been involved in programmes to reduce anxiety. The potential to use these scales in clinical settings must now be investigated.

Key words: Complex and additional support needs, dental anxiety, intervention, measurement, children Refereed paper.

Article Price
£15.00
Institution Article Price
£
Page Start
3
Page End
10
Authors
S Turner, S A Chambers, R Freeman

Articles from this issue

  • Title
  • Pg. Start
  • Pg. End

  1. Editorial - Encouraging wider participation and engagement
  2. 2
  3. 2

  1. Measuring dental anxiety in children with complex and additional support needs using the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale (faces) (MCDASf)
  2. 3
  3. 10

  1. The oral health status and behaviour among non-institutionalised employed adults with intellectual disabilities
  2. 11
  3. 18

  1. Saudi dental students’ perception of their education in Special Care Dentistry and its effect on their confidence to render care
  2. 19
  3. 25

  1. Access to care waiting times for special care patients accessing specialist services in a dental hospital
  2. 27
  3. 34

  1. Diary Dates
  2. 35
  3. 35

  1. Instructions to Authors
  2. 38
  3. 39

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