Objective: Dental anxiety in children is associated with poor oral health outcomes and becomes a problem in patient management, thus avoiding the dentist. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between children's anxiety about dental care with age and gender in coastal communities.
Materials and Methods: This type of research is analytically observational with a cross-sectional approach. Conducted on children aged 6-12 years in Bulukumba Regency, Indonesia, in July 2022. The sampling technique was coincidental with the criteria of being willing to fill out a questionnaire instrument totaling 241 samples.
Results: The relationship between dental care anxiety and age showed anxiety (47.7%) with p-value=0.00; there was a significant relationship. According to gender, the male gender group answered anxiety (23.7%) while women (24.1%) with pvalue=0.04; there is a significant relationship.
Conclusion: In coastal communities, children of a certain age have a low level of anxiety, and there is a significant relationship between anxiety related to dental care and children's age and gender.