Effect of Dental Students’ Dressing on Dentist-Patient Relationship

Background: To establish a good and effective relationship between a doctor and his/her patient, certain non-verbal standards are as necessary as knowledge and skills. According to evidence, one of these standards may be the dentist’s attire. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of dental students’ dressing on patients’ trust and confidence. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was performed to evaluate the perception of dental school patients. After reviewing pictures of dental students in six different dress styles, the respondents were asked some questions on their preference for dental students’ attire, as well as several questions targeting patients’ trust and confidence. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 16. Results: In the present study, 169 respondents with a mean age of 27.5 years old were enrolled, including 47% men and 53% women. The included respondents significantly favored male dentists with a long white coat and surgical scrubs and preferred a long white coat with a white scarf for women (P<0.001). They believed that dentists with this attire are more knowledgeable, skilled, and professionally competent, and they were more appealing to share their personal issues with this kind of dentist. Conclusions: The respondents preferred dental students in professional attire. Wearing professional dress (a white coat) could have a favorable effect on patients’ trust and confidence.