Do Waiting Times in Dental Offices Affect Patient Satisfaction and Evaluations of Patient-Provider Relationships? A Quasi-experimental Study.

Purpose: Spending time in waiting rooms prior to dental visits is not uncommon for dental hygiene patients. The objectives were to determine if the length of a patients' waiting time affected their satisfaction with the appointment and their evaluation of their provider. In addition, the patient's level of education and whether the dental visit is a first visit will be examined to determine if these affected the outcome.