Associations Among Dental Anxiety, Pain Perception, and Cooperative Behavior in Children Receiving Dental Care: A Systematic Review
Azka Faihaa, Betadion Rizki Sinaredi*, Prawati Nuraini
Abstract
A child’s experience receiving dental care is influenced by cooperative behavior, pain perception, and dental anxiety. However, the interpretation of the connections between these factors is complicated by differences in research designs and data collection techniques. Examining quantitative data about the relationships between dental anxiety, pain perception, and cooperative behavior in kids receiving dental care is the aim of this systematic review. The PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for pertinent articles that were published between 2020 and October 15, 2026. Studies that present quantifiable correlations between at least two of the variables being studied were included in the review. The Joanna Briggs Institute’s relevant critical evaluation instruments were used to evaluate methodological quality, and the results were narratively summarized. Five studies involving 1,486 children were included. Higher dental anxiety was generally associated with poorer clinical cooperation or more treatment-interfering behaviors. A higher reported experience of pain was linked to uncooperative conduct in one study (RR = 2.39; 95% CI: 1.23–4.64). There is still a small and inconsistent corpus of research on dental anxiety and pain perception, especially when possible confounding variables are considered. Overall, the conclusiveness of these results is limited by the variation in the definition of outcomes, measuring tools, and research methodologies.
Keywords
dental anxiety; pain perception; cooperative behavior; pediatric dentistry
Cite This Article
Faihaa, A., Sinaredi, B. R., Nuraini, P. (2026). Associations Among Dental Anxiety, Pain Perception, and Cooperative Behavior in Children Receiving Dental Care: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Scientific Advances (IJSCIA), Volume 7| Issue 5: Sep – Oct 2026, Pages 748-756. URL: https://www.ijscia.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Volume7-Issue5-Sep-Oct-No.1096-748-756.pdf
Volume 7 | Issue 5: Sep – Oct 2026
