Evaluation of the effect of dentist appearance on dental anxiety in children

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of colored and white coat use on dental anxiety in children using psychometric, projective, and physiological methods. Material and Method: This cross-sectional study included 150 patients aged 6- 12 years who applied to the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Faculty of Dentistry between May 2023 and April 2024. The examination and preventive treatments of the children, who were divided into two groups according to the color of the dentist's coat, were performed in two sessions. Vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, saturation) were recorded before and after each session. Participants who completed the MCDAS f before the sessions were asked to draw the hospital environment and the dentist after the sessions. The drawings were scored according to the CD: H. The Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test, and T test were used for analysis. Results were evaluated with a significance level of p<0.05. Results: A statistically significant relationship was found between the MCDAS f values ​​recorded before the examination and preventive treatment sessions of the patients in the white and colored coat groups (p=0.019; p=0.034). A statistically significant difference was also found between the CD: H values ​​of the white and colored coat groups in the preventive treatment session (p=0.037). No significant differences were observed in saturation, systolic, and diastolic blood pressure values measured before and after the examination and preventive treatment sessions. However, significant differences were found in pulse values (p=0.026; p=0.017; p=0.008; p=0.004). Consequently, it was concluded that the MCDAS f , CD: H and pulse values of the children in the colored coat group were lower than those in the white coat group. Conclusion: Within the limitations of the study, it is seen that the dentist's preference for a colored coat reduces children's dental anxiety levels. It is believed that the preference of pediatric dentists for a colored coat helps children relax and makes it easier for them to cope with stressful procedures such as aerators and anesthesia. This approach may contribute to children having better oral hygiene by ensuring that they are not afraid of going to the dentist in the future. Key words: Color, Dental anxiety, Pediatric Dentistry, Uniforms