Age and sex differences in children's reports of dental anxiety and self-efficacy relating to dental visits.

Abstract
There is tentative evidence in the literature that older children are more fearful of dental treatment than younger ones and that sex differences in dental anxiety are rarely seen in children before adolescence. In two related studies (cross-sectional and longitudinal) of the dental experience and behaviour of children of both sexes aged between 9 and 12 years, it was found that dental anxiety increased with age; sex differences became marked after age 9 and girls contributed significantly more to the increase than boys. Self-efficacy ratings regarding future good behaviour in the dental operatory were taken to reflect emotional processing of past dental experiences. Low self-efficacy predictions and perception of dental anxiety in peers contributed significantly to self-reports of dental anxiety.

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