Assessment of Dental Fear and Its Consequences Among Children Attending a Secondary Healthcare Facility in Ondo State

Childhood dental fear established by early negative dental experiences contributes to avoidance behaviour that persists into adulthood, and its assessment in South West Nigerian children informs child-friendly dentistry approaches. This study assessed dental fear and its behavioural consequences among children aged 8 to 14 attending dental clinics at General Hospital Akure and General Hospital Ondo Town, Ondo State. A cross-sectional survey of 280 children was conducted. The Children's Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS) was administered, and parents completed questionnaires on the child's dental visit history and behaviour. Results showed that 38.6 percent of children scored in the dental fear range on CFSS-DS. Fear of injection was the most highly rated item. Children who had experienced emergency extraction without adequate anaesthesia showed significantly higher fear scores. Parents of fearful children reported that 52.3 percent had refused a previous dental appointment. Girls scored higher on the CFSS-DS than boys. Previous positive dental experiences showed a strong inverse relationship with dental fear. Children from lower-income households showed higher fear scores, potentially reflecting poorer prior dental care quality. Recommendations include child-friendly dental clinic redesign, staff training in behaviour guidance techniques including tell-show-do and positive reinforcement, and pre-appointment dental preparation programmes for anxious child patients at secondary healthcare facilities in Ondo State.

Keywords: dental fear, children, CFSS-DS, dental attendance, Ondo State