BackgroundEarly recognition of dental fear is essential for the effective delivery of dental care. This study aimed to test the reliability and validity of the Arabic version of the Children’s Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS).MethodsA school-based sample of 1546 children was randomly recruited. The Arabic version of the CFSS-DS was completed by children during class time. The scale was tested for internal consistency and test-retest reliability. To test criterion validity, children’s behavior was assessed using the Frankl scale during dental examination, and results were compared with children’s CFSS-DS scores. To test the scale’s construct validity, scores on “fear of going to the dentist soon” were correlated with CFSS-DS scores. Factor analysis was also used.ResultsThe Arabic version of the CFSS-DS showed high reliability regarding both test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation = 0.83, p < 0.001) and internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.88). It showed good criterion validity: children with negative behavior had significantly higher fear scores (t = 13.67, p < 0.001). It also showed moderate construct validity (Spearman’s rho correlation, r = 0.53, p < 0.001). Factor analysis identified the following factors: “fear of invasive dental procedures,” “fear of less invasive dental procedures” and “fear of strangers.”ConclusionThe Arabic version of the CFSS-DS is a reliable and valid measure of dental fear in Arabic-speaking children. Pediatric dentists and researchers may use this validated version of the CFSS-DS to measure dental fear in Arabic-speaking children.

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Empathy is the fundamental substructure of moral behavior. Skillful clinicians may not necessarily be successful dentists if they do not have sufficient empathy. The aim of this study was to assess the level of empathy among dental students at King Abdulaziz University with an emphasis on the effect of gender and study level. A cross‐sectional study was carried out among third‐ to sixth‐year dental students of King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A validated, self‐administered Jefferson Scale of Empathy‐Health Care Provider Student Version was distributed in academic year 2016‐17 to all 380 students in the third to sixth years. A total of 300 students responded, for a response rate of 78.9%. The results showed that the students’ mean empathy score was 84.84±11.28 on a range from 20 to 140. The fifth‐ and sixth‐year students had higher scores than the third‐ and fourth‐year students although the differences were not statistically significant. The mean empathy score of women students was significantly higher (p<0.001) than that of men students, and the women demonstrated significantly better perspective‐taking (p<0.001) than the men. This study found that the students were empathetic and had a sense of moral obligation although their mean empathy score was not as high as expected. Integrating empathic, ethical, and professional elements into the dental curriculum is needed.

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Aim and objective To illustrate the most important general findings significant for dentists dealing with pediatric diabetic patients, as well as the effect of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) on children's oral health. Background Type 1 DM is considered to be the most popular type of diabetes in children and adolescents which has a strong impact on their lifestyle. Diabetes mellitus (DM) mainly affect organs and tissues that are affluent with blood vessels including kidneys, eyes, and nerves. Adding to that oral cavity is covered with epithelial tissues that are rich with small blood vessels. Materials and methods An electronic search of English scientific papers was accomplished using PubMed, Google Scholar, and King Abdulaziz University digital library. Search terms used were children, DM, dental health, gingival health, oral hygiene, periodontal health, and teeth eruption. Review results Thirty-six articles were obtained from the electronic search and references of selected studies. In addition, other references were included from selected studies about DM and its relationship to oral health. Multiple studies confirmed that T1DM has a negative impact on oral hygiene, gingival and periodontal health, and teeth eruption. While other studies contradict these results. Conclusion There are contradictory studies regarding the effect of T1DM on oral health in children and adolescents. Well-established high-quality research with clear and concise materials and methods are required to have representative results. Clinical significance Studying the effect of T1DM on oral health in children and adolescents is indicated to set well-established guidelines to reach a high standard of care for those children. How to cite this article Mandura RA, El Meligy OA, Attar MH, et al. Diabetes Mellitus and Dental Health in Children: A Review of Literature. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(5):719–725.