Maternal Influence on Child Behavior in the Dental Setting

A significant relationship was observed between the behavior of 127 children (3 to 7 years old), 60 whose treatment involved a dental extraction and 67 a dental examination, and the anxiety level of their mothers as measured by scores on the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale. A significant relationship was also found between the mothers' answers to the first three questions on a short preoperative questionnaire and their children's behavior. These results indicated that, in this sample, maternal anxiety appears to be a major factor affecting the behavior of young children during early dental experiences. There is also some indication that a preoperative questionnaire could be substituted for a psychological anxiety test in a variety of clinical settings, thus aiding the clinician in predicting and managing the child's behavior.