Table 2.

Summary of descriptive characteristics of included articles that evaluated dental clinic preferences (n = 5)

Group	Author, year	Study sample (n), sex, and mean age (years)	Objectives	Setting	Statistical analysis	Findings	Main conclusion
Picture-based survey and questionnaire	Patır Münevveroğlu et al.,¹⁰ Turkey	(200), 98 females, 102 boys, 6–12	To evaluate the attitudes of children toward dentists and preferences.	Department of Pedodontics	Descriptive analysis. Chi-square test, Mann–Whitney test, and Student’s test.	When the children were asked to choose between pictures of undecorated and decorated dental clinics as the clinic they would like to be treated in, 76.5% selected the decorated dental clinic. However, there was no significant difference between age groups (p < 0.05).	Children have strong preferences regarding the appearance of their dentist and dental clinics.
	Subramanian and Rajasekaran²⁹ India	(100), 9–12	To assess children’s attitudes and perceptions toward their dentist.	Dental Hospital	Descriptive statistics.	When asked to choose between two pictures of different clinical settings, 83% of the children indicated that they preferred a decorated dental clinic over a plain clinic.	Children have strong perceptions and preferences regarding their dentists. Data collected for this study can be used by dentists to improve the delivery of care.
Questionnaire-based survey	Jayakaran et al.,²⁴ India	(50), 21 females, 29 males, 6–10	To determine children’s preferences in a dental clinic to reduce anxiety during dental procedures.	Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry	Chi-square test.	A large number of children preferred listening to rhymes and watching cartoons while undergoing dental treatment. They also preferred the walls painted with cartoons, the dental chair full of toys, a scented environment.	A blue wall, with cartoon background, filled with toys, in a scented atmosphere, with rhymes, played in the background, with cartoon videos.
	Panda and Shah,²³ India	(212), 85 females, 127 males, 6–11	To determine children’s preferences regarding the dental waiting area so as to improve their waiting experience and reduce their preoperative anxiety before a dental appointment.	Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry	Cross-tables using Phi (for 2 9 2 tables) or Cramer’s V (for larger than 2 9 2 tables).	A majority of children preferred music and the ability to play in a waiting room. They also preferred natural light and walls with pictures. They preferred looking at an aquarium or television and sitting on beanbags and chairs and also preferred plants and oral hygiene posters.	Children do have strong preferences related to the dental waiting area. Introducing distractions that children prefer in the dental waiting area, such as books, music, aquarium, etc., can help relax them and can reduce anxiety related to the upcoming dental visit.
Picture-based survey	AlSarheed,¹² Saudi Arabia	(583), 289 females, 294 males, 9–12	To assess school children’s feelings and attitudes toward their dentist.	Eight primary public schools	Descriptive analysis. Chi-square test and non-parametric test.	63% of the children indicated that they preferred a decorated dental clinic over a plain clinic instead of a colored one. However, this preference differed between age groups, 37% of young children (9–10 years) liked the decorated dental clinic compared to 15% of the older age group (10–12 years).	The results indicated the children favored a decorated dental clinic with the toys and posters over a routine and bare clinic.