Parents' preferences regarding appearance and attire of orthodontists.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate parents' preferences regarding the appearance and attire of orthodontists.


METHODS
Parents attending their child's first orthodontic appointment were asked to choose from among sets of photographs of potential orthodontic providers. Selected factors were varied within the sets, including sex and age of the provider as well as attire (casual, formal, white coat, or scrubs), hairstyle (loose or tied back for women, facial hair or clean shaven for men), and presence of a nametag.


RESULTS
A total of 77 parents participated. There were significant differences in choice of provider in terms of the provider's sex (P<.0001), age (P=.0013), dress (P<.0001), hair (P<.0001), and nametag (P=.0065). There were no significant differences in preference attributable to parent characteristics (P>.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Parents of orthodontic patients demonstrated clear preferences for choosing a provider related to factors that are not within the control of the practitioner (sex and age) as well as factors that can be changed by the practitioner (attire, hairstyle, and wearing a nametag).
a  Orthodontic Resident, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
Gillian R
GR
Kelly
Bhavna
B
Shroff
Al M
AM
Best
Eser
E
Tufekci
Steven J
SJ
Lindauer
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D001290:Attitude; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003020:Clothing / Q000523:psychology*; D003815:Dentists; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009970:Orthodontics; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D044465:White People