Behaviour of 3–11-year-old children during dental treatment requiring multiple visits: a retrospective study

Purpose: To examine children’s behaviours during consecutive dental treatments, relative to gender, age, and behaviour guidance techniques. Methods: A retrospective study of medical records of children treated by four residents in a Department of Paediatric Dentistry, during 2015–2018. Data included: age, gender, behaviour guidance technique (no medication, inhaled sedation, conscious sedation with hydroxyzine or benzodiazepines) and behaviour according to Frankl scale. Results: Of 205 children, 134 were 3–6 yo (Group 1) and 71 were 6.1–11 yo (Group 2). Most presented a positive behavioural profile, with significant difference between groups (p = 0.02), no significant difference between genders (p = 0.72). A significant association between behaviour guidance techniques and behavioural profile was found (p = 0.01). Most children with positive behaviour received inhaled sedation (83%), while most children with negative behaviour received conscious sedation using benzodiazepines (8%). Negative behaviour was observed only in the younger children receiving conscious sedation with benzodiazepines (9%) or hydroxyzine (3%). Conclusions: Most 3–11 yo patients exhibited positive behaviour during four consecutive dental treatments, with different behaviour guidance techniques. Negative behaviour was more frequent among 3–6 yo children, where sedation was often required to achieve cooperation, and 4.5% could benefit from general anesthesia.