Abstract: Objective: To investigate the effects of treatment at acute or non-acute period on the dental anxiety in children with different ages, and to improve the behavior management of children with dental anxiety. Methods: One hundred and ninety-two children aged 3-7 years with primary molars caries were divided averagely into 4 groups, 2 experimental groups (with acute symptom) and 2 control groups (with non-acute symptom) on their first visiting. The change of the children fear was assessed before the first treatment, after the first treatment, and subsequent visit by CFSS-DS. The change of children's clinical behavior was evaluated in their first and return visit by Venham Clinical Anxiety and Cooperation Behavior Measurement Scale. Results: Before and after the treatment, the CFSS-DS average scores of the experimental group were statistical significance (P<0.05), which was not statistical different from the control group. On their first and return visit, the behavior of the experimental group was statistical different (P<0.05) by Venham Clinical Anxiety and Cooperation Behavior Measurement Scale, however, there was not statistical difference in the control group. Conclusion: Children dental anxiety could be stabilized and improved by proper treatment, and the improvement of the patients who took treatment during the acute stage was more remarkable.

Key words: Child dental fear, Childhood caries, Acute phase, Non-acute phase