Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38762555›Full record

ArticleEvidence-based dentistry2024

Tiny teeth in terrified tots - what is the global prevalence of paediatric dental fear and anxiety?

Lucy Hutton, John Linden

Abstract read
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Article in Evidence-based dentistry, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Lucy HuttonVocational Dental Practitioner, Maybole Dental Practice, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, South Ayrshire, Scotland.
John LindenSpecialty Registrar in Paediatric Dentistry, Glasgow Dental Hospital and Royal Hospital for Children, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow, Scotland. John.linden@ggc.scot.nhs.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5455-9251

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsTo establish the worldwide prevalence of paediatric dental fear and anxiety (DFA) and its associated components.

designA systematic review and meta-analysis of 25 observational studies found on three well known English language publication databases dating from 2000. 2895 studies were identified relating to paediatric dental fear, anxiety, or phobia. 25 met the inclusion criteria and were subject to the Joanna Briggs Institute quality assessment tool and subsequently analysed using PRISMA framework. Studies exploring levels of DFA in children 2-6 years old were included. Studies were excluded if they were not published in English, included children with 'special needs' including intellectual disabilities, and studies which explored DFA intervention. Of the included studies, the following was recorded: Country of Origin, DFA prevalence, age of participants, study design, sample size, assessment method and who reported on the level of DFA of the child.

resultsThe pooled level of DFA of children aged 2-6 was estimated to be 30% (95% CI = 25, 36). Children with no dental experience and children with caries experience were found to have higher odds of experiencing DFA (OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.18, 1.59) and (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.09, 1.27), respectively.

conclusionThis review shows that approximately 30% of 2-6-year-old children will experience a level of dental and anxiety. Levels are expected to be higher in children who have not visited the dentist and children with dental caries.

Indexed as

Dental AnxietyChildChild, PreschoolGlobal HealthHumansMeta-Analysis as TopicPrevalenceSystematic Reviews as Topic

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.