RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The management of children's anxiety in dental offices is still a challenge for the treatment team. The most important factors which affect children's dental anxiety are the clinician-related factors and the physical factors of the dental operatory. Color is an environmental factor whose relationship with the perceptive and emotional factors of children has been reported. On the other hand, distraction is essential factors in a treatment environment that can be used to manage children's anxiety. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized clinical trial study, from 132 6 to 9 years of age children, 52.3% were male, and 47.7% were female, with a mean age of 7.45 ± 1.1 years. The children's anxiety levels were determined using the Venham Picture Test and pulse oximetry before and after the administration of local anesthesia. The children were randomly assigned to two groups (n = 66): Group 1, music, and Group 2, animated cartoons. The data were analyzed with SPSS 25, using descriptive statistics and the statistical tests consisting of one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), t-test, and repeated-measures ANOVA, followed by Tukey honestly significant difference tests. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: The anxiety levels were the lowest in the blue and pink environments and the highest in the black and red. Anxiety levels between different colors in terms of physiologic markers and the questionnaire in each distraction technique at different intervals was significantly different. CONCLUSION: The use of blue, pink, green, and yellow for dentists' attire, and the interior design of the dental operatory decreased the child patients' anxiety.
