Validating a measure of the prevalence of dental anxiety as applied to Kuwaiti adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: To assess self-reported dental anxiety (DA) among Kuwaiti adolescents and to test whether different dental anxiety scales are valid for measuring DA in Kuwait. BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN: Cross-sectional, structured, anonymous questionnaire survey in Arabic completed at government schools. PARTICIPANTS: 757 pupils aged 13-15 years from three schools filled the questionnaire. Useable response rate was 93.0%. MAIN MEASURES: DA was assessed by: 1, a single-item dental fear question (DF); 2, the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS); and 3, the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale: faces (MCDAS(f)). RESULTS: A third of the girls and 6% of boys reported being very much afraid of visiting a dentist. Use of the drill and injection in the gum were the most anxiety arousing MDAS items; tooth extraction and injection of the MCDAS(f) items. Total mean for MDAS was 11.4 (sd 4.6) and for MCDAS(f) 16.6 (sd 6.5). A tenth of the children were highly dentally anxious when measured by MDAS (score ≥ 19). Girls reported statistically significantly higher DA scores with all the measures. There was a high correlation between the total score of the MDAS and the total score of the MCDAS(f) (p = 0.855). Statistically significant relationship (p < 0.001) was found between the single-item DF and the total score of the MDAS and a single item and the total score of the MCDAS(f). CONCLUSIONs: A tenth of children were highly dentally anxious; girls reporting higher scores. A single-item dental fear question, MDAS and MCDAS(f) were valid tools for measuring DA among Kuwaiti adolescents.

Dental and medical practitioners' perception of community water fluoridation as a caries preventive measure.

AIM: To evaluate and compare the perceptions and concerns of dental and medical practitioners towards water fluoridation as a caries preventive measure. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire comprising 21 questions was designed and validated to assess general knowledge and concerns of fluoride and community water fluoridation (CWF) as a dental caries preventive measure. The questions examined participant's perception regarding effectiveness, advantages, adverse effects, cost-benefit, and concerns pertinent to CWF. Dentists, general physicians and paediatricians were randomly recruited from public medical/dental centres, university clinics, and the private sector to complete the questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 474 participants (74% response rate) completed the questionnaire (294 dentists and 180 medical practitioners). About 86% of the dentists and 78% of the medical practitioners agreed that CWF has a role in caries prevention. However, only a few of those would advise their patients to drink fluoridated water. There were some concerns about CWF, and the main concern in both groups was dental fluorosis. The level of awareness regarding CWF status in Kuwait amongst the two groups was low. However, the majority in both groups (77%) believed that the water supply should be optimally fluoridated. CONCLUSION: Dental and medical health care professionals agreed that water fluoridation can benefit the oral health of the individuals in the community, however, general knowledge about fluoride benefits, safety, risks and status of public water fluoridation was low.