title: Child friendly colors in a pediatric dental practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The child's perception of the dental environment is a significant factor causing dental anxiety. If the color of the dental environment can have a positive impact on the child's behavior, it is possible that those colors may add to the comfort of a child, thus reducing dental anxiety.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association between color and emotions of children in a pediatric dental set-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 300 children aged 6-12 years were divided into 2 groups: Younger children (6-9 years, n = 156) and older children (9-12 years, n = 144). All the children were asked to shade two cartoon faces representing happiness and fear with their most preferred color.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the positive emotion, 44% (n = 132) of the children preferred yellow, followed by blue 32.67% (n = 98). For negative emotion, 56.67% (n = 170) of the children preferred black and 42.67% (n = 128) preferred red. Association between color and emotion was highly significant (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has attempted to advance the area of color research to dental anxiety in children visiting a dental clinic. The use of child friendly colors like yellow and blue in the dental work place could enhance a positive dental attitude in the child's mind.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, J. K. K. Nataraja Dental College and Hospital. Komarapalayam, India.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Umamaheshwari
authors.forename: Sharath
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asokan
authors.forename: Thanga S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Kumaran
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003116:Color; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control; D003770:Dental Offices; D006801:Humans