Tong H J, Khong J, Ong C, Ng A, Lin Y, Ng J J, Hong C H L
Discipline of Orthodontics and Paediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, 11 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119083, Republic of Singapore,
Eur Arch Paediatr Dent. 2014 Dec;15(6):377-84. doi: 10.1007/s40368-014-0126-z. Epub 2014 May 20.
To evaluate child and parental attitudes towards dentists' appearance, subsequently related to a child's dental experience and their association with child's anxiety levels.
402 parent-child pairs were surveyed using interviewer-administered questionnaires at the School Dental Service, Health Promotion Board, Singapore. Standardised pictures of models with different attires, ages, genders and ethnicities were shown to the parent-child pairs. Information on each child's dental experience was obtained. Parental proxy was used to evaluate the children's dental fear levels based on the Children's Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS).
Personal protective equipment (PPE) was the attire of choice for both parents and children, followed by the paediatric coat. Formal and informal attire was least preferred by children and parents, respectively. Parents preferred female dentists to treat their child, whereas children preferred a dentist of the same gender (p < 0.001). Parent's and child's preferences for the child's dentist's appearance were shown to be significantly different (p < 0.001). CFSS-DS scores were also significantly associated with the number of previous dental visits (p = 0.002) as well as a history of extractions (p = 0.02), but not with child's demographics, dmft or preference for dentist's appearance (p > 0.05).
Regardless of child anxiety levels, the PPE followed by paediatric coats were preferred over other choices of dentists' attire. Children tended to choose a dentist who was of a younger age, and of the same gender and ethnicity as themselves. Parents tended to choose younger, female dentists of the same ethnicity as themselves. Subjective experience of extractions, as well as multiple dental visits appeared to play a more significant role in the development of dental fear than dental caries experience per se.
评估儿童和家长对牙医外貌的态度，以及这些态度与儿童牙科经历的关系及其与儿童焦虑水平的关联。
在新加坡健康促进局学校牙科服务处，采用由访谈员管理的问卷对402对亲子进行了调查。向亲子展示了不同着装、年龄、性别和种族的标准化模特图片。获取了每个孩子的牙科经历信息。基于儿童恐惧调查量表 - 牙科分量表（CFSS - DS），由家长代理评估孩子的牙科恐惧水平。
个人防护装备（PPE）是家长和孩子都首选的着装，其次是儿科医生外套。正式和非正式着装分别是孩子和家长最不喜欢的。家长更喜欢女牙医为孩子治疗，而孩子更喜欢同性别的牙医（p < 0.001）。家长和孩子对孩子牙医外貌的偏好存在显著差异（p < 0.001）。CFSS - DS得分也与之前看牙的次数（p = 0.002）以及拔牙史（p = 0.02）显著相关，但与孩子的人口统计学特征、乳牙龋失补牙数（dmft）或对牙医外貌的偏好无关（p > 0.05）。
无论儿童焦虑水平如何，个人防护装备之后是儿科医生外套比其他牙医着装选择更受青睐。儿童倾向于选择年龄较小、与自己性别和种族相同的牙医。家长倾向于选择年龄较小、与自己种族相同的女牙医。拔牙的主观经历以及多次看牙似乎比龋齿经历本身在牙科恐惧的形成中发挥更重要的作用。
