Parental perception on the effect of various factors in a dental clinic affecting child’s behaviour

Abstract

Background: Societal, professional views and parenting styles have evolved tremendously over the years. Thus, it is important to understand the parental perceptions on the various factors influencing child behaviour in the dental clinic. Aim: To record and evaluate the parent’s views regarding the various factors that influence child behaviour in a dental clinic. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 164 parents who were asked to complete a close-ended questionnaire divided into 4 categories-dentist, dental clinical settings, dental treatments and child related factors. This data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: According to the study results, the parents perceived that the dental treatments and dental settings played a significant role (p< 0.05) that affected the child’s behaviour in a dental clinic. There was no significant differences between the “yes” and “no” responses for the dentist and child related factors. Conclusion: The parental attitudes and styles are constantly changing as the society evolves. Thus it is important to understand and reassess their beliefs and update our way of managing the dental setup and treatments regularly.