The Impact of Parenting Styles on Pediatric Dental Behavior and Anxiety in the Dental Operatory.

Purpose: To understand the relationship and impact of the parenting styles of mothers on the behavior and anxiety in the dental operatory of eight- to 12-year-old children. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 50 mother-child dyads. A short version of the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire was used to assess parenting style, while the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale and Frankl's Behavior Rating Scale were used to assess dental anxiety and behavior. Results: Forty-six percent of children (n=23) were male. Sixty-four percent of mothers had an authoritative parenting style, 20 percent were authoritarian and 16 percent had a permissive parenting style. A statistically significant negative relationship was observed between permissive parenting style (-0.392, P<0.005) and dental behavior, and between dental behavior and dental anxiety (-0.611, P<0.000). Regression analysis showed that parenting style had an impact of 14.5 percent on the behavior of the child in the dental operatory. Conclusion: Parenting styles, particularly permissive types, had a significant impact on a child???s dental behavior.