Dental Anxiety, Fear and Phobia in Children

Dental fear is one of the most common fear, which is classified as a specific fear according to Diagnostics and Statistics of Psychic Disorders DSM-IV. Dental phobia leads to avoidance of treatment, which in turn leads to deterioration of oral health.The anxious mood of a child prior to any frightening situation may affect a person’s capacity for work and also affects the social activity. Children with dental fear avoid to address the Dentist in cases of neglected dental problems, be it the pain or swelling and this in turn affects the Dentists’ work.The aetiology of dental fear has been discussed from various aspects, including the subject’s inclination towards fear and anxiety and also a response towards certain specific stimulus. This article covers the entire process of the fear, anxiety and phobia portrayed by children.