Pediatric Dentistry through a Child\'s Lens—The Role of Dentist\'s Gender, Attire, and Clinic Ambiance in Gen Alpha\'s Experience: A Cross-sectional Study
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Aim and background: A child's first impression of the dental clinic impacts their willingness to cooperate during treatment, and factors like the dentist's gender, attire, and clinic colors strongly influence a child's comfort. Colors in particular play a crucial role in shaping emotions and reducing fear. This study aims to evaluate children's knowledge of a pediatric dentist and their preferences regarding the dentist's gender, attire, and the dental clinic environment. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 186 schoolchildren aged 6-12 years. Children were provided with images of male and female dentists and a clinical setting along with 10 colors and were asked to color them based on their preferences. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0. Results: < 0.001) was observed between younger and older children regarding the knowledge of pediatric dentists, where older children were more aware. Sixty-four percent of children stated that a dentist's attire influenced their anxiety, while 74% believed clinic environment colors affected their comfort levels. Most children preferred a dentist of their own gender. Blue was the most favored color for dentist's attire among both genders. For the clinic environment, boys preferred blue, whereas girls opted for pink. Brown was the most chosen color for dental chairs. Conclusion: The results of our current study conclude inadequate knowledge about pediatric dentists in children. The dental clinic environment and the dentist's attire affect the child's anxiety level. Clinical significance: Pediatric dentists must recognize that clinic ambiance and attire significantly influence child behavior. Understanding these preferences enables pediatric dentists to create child-friendly, psychologically supportive environments that enhance the overall dental experience. How to cite this article: . Pediatric Dentistry through a Child's Lens-The Role of Dentist's Gender, Attire, and Clinic Ambiance in Gen Alpha's Experience: A Cross-sectional Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2025;18(10):1260-1266.
Authors: Sai Vaishnavi Alahari, Sampath R Cheruku, Silla S Swathi, Ziauddin Mohammad, Murali K Dindukurthi, Anusha Reddy Gollapalli
Institution: Mathrusri Ramabai Ambedkar Dental College & Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Oral Surgery
Field: Dentistry
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4415388369