Abstract

PEREZ NAVARRO, Norailys; GONZALEZ MARTINEZ, Cristina; GUEDES PINTO, Antonio Carlos  and  SALETE NAHAS P. CORREA, María. Factores que pueden generar miedo al tratamiento estomatológico en niños de 2 a 4 años de edad. Rev Cubana Estomatol [online]. 2002, vol.39, n.3, pp. 302-327. ISSN 1561-297X.

The factors influencing the most on the appearance of fear to dental treatment in children aged 2-4 were studied based on the surveys and on the first visit to the stomatologist. 50 Cuban children with their mothers and 27 stomatologists were surveyed about the factors that may provoke this fear. It was observed that children in good health behaved better at the stomatologist's office than those getting sick frequently. The parents' separation influenced as an emotional factor on fear to dental treatment. Most of the mothers felt anxious at the time of consultation and on being separated from their children. There were stomatologists with a few years of experience and that had not received upgrading courses of Child Psychology and Odontopediatrics. The child's behavior was more difficult when he was separated from the mother. The characteristics inherent to the age and the mother's anxiety at the time of consultation contributed to it. It was found that many children had a negative reaction to the separation from their mothers and that as the age increases the mother and the child's anxiety to be separated from each other decreased..

Keywords : DENTAL ANXIETY; PHOBIC DISORDERS; MOUTH DISEASES [therapy]; MOUTH DISEASES [psychology]; CHILD PSYCHOLOGY.