Impact of Colors on Dental Anxiety in Children: A Scoping Review

Background: Dental anxiety and its management are an important subject of research, and external environmental elements, like color and ambiance of the surroundings, are some of the many factors considered in anxiety management strategies. Aim: This scoping review aimed to present a comprehensive re...

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Main Authors: Fathima Jumana Kaja, Sharath Asokan, Geetha Priya Pollachi-Ramakrishnan, Sudhandra Viswanath, Yogesh Kumar Thoppe-Dhamodharan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publisher 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of South Asian Association of Pediatric Dentistry
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Online Access:https://www.jsaapd.com/doi/JSAAPD/pdf/10.5005/jp-journals-10077-3338
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author Fathima Jumana Kaja
Sharath Asokan
Geetha Priya Pollachi-Ramakrishnan
Sudhandra Viswanath
Yogesh Kumar Thoppe-Dhamodharan
author_facet Fathima Jumana Kaja
Sharath Asokan
Geetha Priya Pollachi-Ramakrishnan
Sudhandra Viswanath
Yogesh Kumar Thoppe-Dhamodharan
author_sort Fathima Jumana Kaja
collection DOAJ
description Background: Dental anxiety and its management are an important subject of research, and external environmental elements, like color and ambiance of the surroundings, are some of the many factors considered in anxiety management strategies. Aim: This scoping review aimed to present a comprehensive report of the literature that assessed the impact of colors on the dental anxiety of children. Materials and methods: A literature search in databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and grey literature was performed from January 2000 to December 2024. Results: Initially, 2,545 articles were identified after a literature search in multiple academic databases. After the assessment of full texts and applying inclusion criteria, 11 articles were included for the final review and appraisal. The majority of the included articles were consistent in associating blue and yellow with positive emotions and red and black with negative emotions. They also reported a preference for colored attire and camouflaged syringes by children. Conclusion: The incorporation of warm colors like yellow, pink, and blue in dental surroundings and attire can enhance the dental experience and instill a positive attitude in children. Clinical significance: This paper highlights the influence of colors on a child's emotions, offering a new toolkit for clinicians to manage dental anxiety. The choice of colors can provide a sense of warmth to children and help us create a child-friendly dental environment.
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issn 2582-1024
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publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Jaypee Brothers Medical Publisher
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series Journal of South Asian Association of Pediatric Dentistry
spelling doaj-art-e1a0bb195b2f4df09d8638a8a4e9e9bc2025-08-20T03:41:14ZengJaypee Brothers Medical PublisherJournal of South Asian Association of Pediatric Dentistry2582-10242025-04-0181606610.5005/jp-journals-10077-333812Impact of Colors on Dental Anxiety in Children: A Scoping ReviewFathima Jumana Kaja0Sharath Asokan1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1403-5725Geetha Priya Pollachi-Ramakrishnan2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5365-0555Sudhandra Viswanath3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1467-8352Yogesh Kumar Thoppe-Dhamodharan4https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6051-9718Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, KSR Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, IndiaSharath Asokan, Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, KSR Institute of Dental Science and Research, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, India, Phone: +91 9840168772Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, KSR Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, IndiaDepartment of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, KSR Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, IndiaDepartment of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, KSR Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, IndiaBackground: Dental anxiety and its management are an important subject of research, and external environmental elements, like color and ambiance of the surroundings, are some of the many factors considered in anxiety management strategies. Aim: This scoping review aimed to present a comprehensive report of the literature that assessed the impact of colors on the dental anxiety of children. Materials and methods: A literature search in databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and grey literature was performed from January 2000 to December 2024. Results: Initially, 2,545 articles were identified after a literature search in multiple academic databases. After the assessment of full texts and applying inclusion criteria, 11 articles were included for the final review and appraisal. The majority of the included articles were consistent in associating blue and yellow with positive emotions and red and black with negative emotions. They also reported a preference for colored attire and camouflaged syringes by children. Conclusion: The incorporation of warm colors like yellow, pink, and blue in dental surroundings and attire can enhance the dental experience and instill a positive attitude in children. Clinical significance: This paper highlights the influence of colors on a child's emotions, offering a new toolkit for clinicians to manage dental anxiety. The choice of colors can provide a sense of warmth to children and help us create a child-friendly dental environment.https://www.jsaapd.com/doi/JSAAPD/pdf/10.5005/jp-journals-10077-3338colordental anxietyemotionspediatric dentistrypsychology
spellingShingle Fathima Jumana Kaja
Sharath Asokan
Geetha Priya Pollachi-Ramakrishnan
Sudhandra Viswanath
Yogesh Kumar Thoppe-Dhamodharan
Impact of Colors on Dental Anxiety in Children: A Scoping Review
Journal of South Asian Association of Pediatric Dentistry
color
dental anxiety
emotions
pediatric dentistry
psychology
title Impact of Colors on Dental Anxiety in Children: A Scoping Review
title_full Impact of Colors on Dental Anxiety in Children: A Scoping Review
title_fullStr Impact of Colors on Dental Anxiety in Children: A Scoping Review
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Colors on Dental Anxiety in Children: A Scoping Review
title_short Impact of Colors on Dental Anxiety in Children: A Scoping Review
title_sort impact of colors on dental anxiety in children a scoping review
topic color
dental anxiety
emotions
pediatric dentistry
psychology
url https://www.jsaapd.com/doi/JSAAPD/pdf/10.5005/jp-journals-10077-3338
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