Needle Threat and Acquired Dental Phobia in Pediatric Dental Patients

Authors

  • Hammad Hassan Department of Dental Materials, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
  • Faiza Fatima Chishti Department of Community Dentistry, Institute of Dentistry, CMH Lahore Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan.
  • Asma Shakoor Department of Community Dentistry, Institute of Dentistry, CMH Lahore Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Rabia Asad Department of Community and Preventive Dentistry, Akhter Saeed Medical and Dental College, Lahore, Pakistan.
  • Salman Aziz Department of Dental Materials, Institute of Dentistry, CMH Lahore Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan.
  • Muhammad Abbas Department of Prosthetic Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jouf University, Skaka, Saudi Arabia.

Keywords:

Dental anxiety, Dental phobia, Fear, Needle Threat, Pediatric

Abstract

Objective: To identify the relationship between injection needle threat as a mode of disciplining children and acquired dental phobia in pediatric patients.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at University College of Dentistry, Lahore, Pakistan between December 2021 and November 2022. The study included individuals under the age of 18 years who were presented during the survey and scheduled for pulpotomy or pulpectomy treatment. The study assessed two primary outcomes: dental anxiety and childhood needle threat. Dental anxiety was evaluated using the Modified Children's Dental Anxiety Scale, while childhood needle threat was measured by observing the child's responses to scenarios involving needles.
Results: Of total 200 pediatric patients, the mean age was 12.04 ±2.34 years. Mild dental anxiety level was observed in 56 (28.0%) patients, moderate in 122 (61.0%) patients and severe in 22 (11.0%) patients. Childhood needle threat was observed in 94 (47.0%) patients. Patients with mild dental anxiety were 0.86 times significantly less likely to have needle threat as compared to patients with severe dental anxiety (cOR 0.14, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.48, p-value 0.002). Similarly, patients with moderate dental anxiety were 0.83 times significantly less likely to have needle threat as compared to patients with severe dental anxiety (cOR 0.17, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.55, p-value 0.003).
Conclusion: The study revealed that most children exhibited moderate dental anxiety, with a notable incidence of dental phobia. Those with higher anxiety levels felt more threatened by needles, underscoring the need to avoid using needles as a mode of discipline.

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Published

2024-06-03

How to Cite

Hassan, H., Chishti, F. F., Shakoor, A., Asad, R., Aziz, S., & Abbas, M. (2024). Needle Threat and Acquired Dental Phobia in Pediatric Dental Patients . Journal of the Dow University of Health Sciences (JDUHS), 18(2), 73–78. Retrieved from https://jduhs.jduhs.duhs.edu.pk/index.php/jduhs/article/view/1987

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Original Articles