DENTAL ANXIETY IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLCHILDREN: EVALUATING THE ROLES OF AGE AND GENDER AS SIGNIFICANT DEMOGRAPHIC PREDICTORS

Abstract

Dental anxiety remains a significant challenge in pediatric dentistry, often leading to uncooperative behavior during treatments such as tooth extraction or filling. While global prevalence is high, specific demographic factors like age and gender are thought to play a crucial role in shaping a child's psychological response to dental care. This study aims to evaluate the distribution of dental anxiety levels among elementary schoolchildren, specifically focusing on the influence of age and gender as demographic predictors [5,14]. A descriptive-comparative study with a cross-sectional design was conducted at the SDN Komplek Kampung Manggis, Padang Panjang. The study population consisted of 420 students, with a purposive sample of 145 students (71 males and 74 females) who had prior experience with dental treatment. Data were collected through direct interviews and questionnaires, focusing on anxiety levels during dental procedures. Univariate analysis was employed to describe the frequency distribution of anxiety across the studied variables. The findings revealed a higher prevalence of dental anxiety in female students (38% or 28 students) compared to male students (6% or 4 students). Regarding age, the highest level of anxiety was observed in the 9-10 years age group (35% or 19 students), while the lowest anxiety was found among the oldest group (11-12 years) at 8% (4 students). Age and gender are significant factors in determining dental anxiety levels among schoolchildren. Female students and children in the middle-primary age group (9-10 years) exhibit higher anxiety, suggesting a need for more tailored behavioral management strategies in pediatric dental practice.