Emotional Recognition and Responses of Preschool Children during Dental Treatment

Abstract

Understanding children's emotional responses during dental treatment is essential for improving their experience and the effectiveness of care. The aim of this study is to investigate how preschool-aged children recognize and define their emotions during dental treatment. The study included 150 children aged 4 to 6 years, treated at the Faculty of Dental Medicine in Sofia. Using an adapted version of the Facial Expression Emotional Scale (FEES) and six questions derived from a modified version of the Children Fear Survey Scale – Dental Subscale, the emotional responses of the participants were assessed in relation to common dental procedures. The results showed that non-invasive procedures elicited predominantly positive emotions, such as happiness, while invasive interventions like tooth extractions and dental drilling triggered fear and anger in a significant portion of the children. Anger was the least reported emotion, except in cases involving extractions. Age-based analysis revealed that six-year-olds demonstrated the widest emotional range, while four-year-olds primarily expressed sadness. The study highlights the importance of emotional development during early childhood and the role of dental professionals in recognizing and managing emotions to reduce anxiety and ensure a positive treatment experience. Understanding how children perceive and express emotions through facial cues not only supports their emotional regulation but also improves dentist-patient communication. The collected data offer a useful foundation for future research and may assist clinicians in predicting emotional responses and applying appropriate behavioural strategies to improve outcomes in pediatric dental care.