43 - Parent Distress in Pediatric Dentistry: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose:
The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship between the diagnosis of caries in children and parental distress in a Post-Graduate Pediatric Dental Clinic in Houston, TX.

Methods:
Parents of new patients to the Graduate Pediatric Dental Clinic were recruited. Baseline pulse obtained and measured at various points throughout the appointment. Parents also completed a demographics questionnaire and a modified-ECOHIS questionnaire to assess distress qualitatively.

Results:
Forty-two subjects were enrolled and assessed. There was a significant increase in pulse as parents were informed of the caries diagnosis and treatment plan, particularly for parents of children with more than 3 quadrants of caries compared to the control (P <.05). There was also a significant increase in pulse of parents whose children required stainless steel crowns and extractions when compared to the control (P <.005). Parents whose children required nitrous sedation and moderate conscious sedation had a significant higher increase in pulse (P <.05). Parents with existing dental anxiety had a greater increase in pulse compared to parents without dental anxiety (P <.05).

Conclusions:
Parents of children with severe childhood caries, who require pharmacologic behaviour guidance and who have pre-existing dental anxiety are more likely to experience distress and vital sign fluctuation at the dental visit, emphasizing the need for family-centred care in pediatric dental offices.