427 - Attitudes and Preferences of Parents or Legal Guardians Being Present in the Pediatric Dental Operatory, a Survey Post-Covid

Purpose: Parental or legal guardian presence during pediatric dental treatment has long been debated, with mixed evidence regarding its impact on child behavior, parental satisfaction, and provider efficiency. Pandemic-related infection control restrictions temporarily limited parental access to dental operatories, potentially altering parental expectations. The purpose of this study is to evaluate post-COVID attitudes and preferences of parents or legal guardians regarding presence in the pediatric dental operatory.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey study will include parents or legal guardians of pediatric patients receiving care at the University of Nebraska Medical Center Pediatric Dental Clinics in Omaha and Lincoln, NE. Participants will complete a survey assessing preferences for operatory presence during commonly performed pediatric dental procedures, willingness to follow provider recommendations regarding presence, and associated demographic factors. Data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests, with statistical significance set at P ≤ .05.

Results: A total of 35 parents or legal guardians participated in the study. The majority (89%) preferred to remain present in the operatory during their child’s dental treatment. The most commonly cited reason was to provide comfort and emotional support, with 68.6% reporting their child is more comfortable when they are present. Additionally, 82.9% preferred to remain present when their child was distressed or crying. Over half of participants (54%) indicated they did not want the dentist to unilaterally decide parental presence. Preferences were consistent across procedures, including examinations with radiographs, restorative treatment, extractions, conscious sedation, and physical restraint, with similar response frequencies across categories. Chi-square analysis revealed no statistically significant associations between parental preference for presence and demographic variables (P > .05).

Conclusions: Most parents prefer to be present in the pediatric dental operatory regardless of procedure type, with comfort and emotional support serving as the primary motivators. Parental preference for presence appears to have increased compared to pre-COVID data, suggesting a continued shift toward greater parental involvement in pediatric dental care. Given the lack of association between demographic factors and preference, clinicians should adopt flexible, family-centered approaches and engage in shared decision-making with parents or legal guardians when determining operatory presence.