Incorporating the psychological perspective into traditional prevention in pediatric dentistry with the PaFein+ Project: trained parents can help

Abstract

Background: Emotional aspects of early dental experiences have long-lasting effects. This study aimed to assess parents’ childhood dental experiences and their impact on current attitudes toward dental treatment and to evaluate the subjectively perceived usefulness of an educational material focused on psychological management of children’s dental visits. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive pilot study was conducted using an educational booklet developed and distributed to parents, who read it and completed a short ques tionnaire. Responses received between 27 February–31 March 2025 were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 25. Results: A total of 142 parents (88% mothers) participated. Most participants (83.1%) had a university degree. Negative childhood dental experiences were reported by 44.4% (more frequent among mothers, p < 0.001), and 18.3% had shared these experiences with their children. Emotional discomfort during dental visits was reported by 61.3% of respondents. Dental anxiety was significantly associated with negative childhood experiences (p < 0.001). Parents with higher education were more likely to choose a certified paedodontist for their child than a nearby general dentist (p = 0.002). Most parents (97.9%) found the material provided helpful for managing future dental visits, and 91.6% were willing to share it with others. Conclusions: Childhood dental fear and anxiety may persist into adulthood. Despite the limited generalizability of our results, parents appreciated targeted resources which may support them in promoting positive dental experiences for their children.