73 - Parental Preferences for Remaining with Child During Dental Procedures

Purpose:  The presence of parents in the dental operatory has become widely accepted by clinicians. This study aims to assess parental preferences regarding their presence during their child's dental procedures and to offer recommendations for developing clinical guidelines on parental involvement.

Methods:  A total of seventy-eight parents or guardians were surveyed via an iPad during their child's dental visit at the East Carolina School of Dental Medicine. The data was collected, securely stored, and analyzed using REDCap.

Results:  Most parents or guardians expressed a preference for remaining in the operatory (64, 85.3%), while a smaller proportion preferred to wait in the designated waiting area (4, 5.3%), and the remainder indicated no preference (7, 9.3%). Primary reasons for wanting to stay included the belief that their presence would improve their child's behavior (53, 84.1%), the dentist might require their assistance (7, 11.1%), an assumption that their presence was mandatory (2, 3.2%), and a desire to observe the dental procedure (19, 30.2%). Universal trust in the dentist was reported and did not affect preferences. No significant correlations were identified between preferences and demographic or procedural factors.

Conclusions:  The findings suggest that most parents prefer to remain present during their child’s dental treatment. However, clear procedural explanations or visual access, such as through glass partitions, can increase their comfort with stepping out when requested. These insights inform dental office design and highlight the need for standardized protocols to balance parental involvement and optimize patient care.


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