[Epidemiologic study of dental fear in school children 8-15 years of age].

Authors investigated the dental fear scores (DAS, DFS) of 139 primary school children in Budapest, Hungary (72 females, 67 males, ages between 8-15 years). Sex and age had no effect on the scales. Mean dental fear scores were high (DAS: 10.7 +/- 3.7, DFS: 40.4 +/- 15.3). A strong correlation between DAS and DFS, and somewhat lower correlation between these scales and the general anxiety scales were demonstrated. Children's evaluation of the dental fear of the family and relations strongly correlated with dental fear and moderately with general anxiety. The results indicate that, dental fear is influenced by dental fear of family and relations, and general anxiety, but much less influenced by other demographic variables (i.e. age, sex) in primary-school children.