Effect of Past and Current Dental Treatment onChildren’s Dental Anxiety Status and OxidativeStress Biomarkers: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to detect dental anxiety caused by past and current dental treatment in children using saliva biomarkers and to investigate the correlation between these markers and psychometric analysis.Methods: A total of 43 children aged 6–13 years were recruited for this study. The participants were divided into two groups: those with dental treatment experience (G1) and those who presented to the dentist for the first time (G2). Anxiety scale data and saliva samples were obtained. Oxidative stress (OS) markers, namely, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI), were analyzed from the saliva samples. After current treatments such as fluoride application or restorative procedures, anxiety scale data, and saliva samples were obtained. Results: TAC and OSI values were higher in G1 than in G2 at baseline (p0.05). After the current treatment, a significant decrease in TAC and OSI values was found in G1 (p