Children’s Attitude and Preferences of Paediatric Dentist’s Attire and Dental Clinic Set up in Paediatric Dental Practice

Background: The biggest issue for any paediatric dentist, despite the many advancements in the field of paediatric dentistry, is to reduce patient anxiety associated with dental visits and encourage them to accept the necessary care. In order to establish a good relationship with the child, the dentist's presentation is crucial.

Aim: To assess the children’s perception and preference towards the dentist’s appearance, dental clinic set-up.

Materials and Methods: A questionnaire designed to evaluate children’s attitudes and preferences towards dentists was distributed in public schools and was completed by 1012 children (459 males, 553 females) aged between 7–13 years. Data collected was entered into a computer and analyzed using SPSS software. Descriptive and inferential analysis was carried out.

Results: For about 526 children (52%) it was their first visit while 486 children (48%) had been to the dentist before. Children’s preferred attire for receptionists was casual clothes (50.2%) while for the dentist, most of them (42.7%) preferred scrubs. Most (69.1%) of the children were not scared with the use of PPE kit.

Conclusion: The findings of this study can assist dentists in determining what to wear when working with kids to lessen their anxiety and enhance healthcare delivery.