Abstract:

Introduction: The healing properties of sound are well-documented. Anxiety and phobia are frequent issues in dental offices, where patients are notably sensitive to touch, sound, and pain. Music therapy has proven to be an effective and non-invasive method for reducing anxiety and enhancing the outcomes of medical treatments.
Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from May 1, 2022, to January 31, 2024, using anonymous questionnaires across six regions as classified by EUROSTAT. Data collection combined both physical distribution by interviewers and electronic distribution of 1,000 survey forms, achieving a return rate of 50.40%. Data were analysed using absolute (n) and relative (%) frequencies, with the Chi-square test for dependency analysis, considering a p-value of <0.05 as statistically significant. SPSS 20 was used for data processing, and the music played in dental practices was prerecorded.
Results: Survey participants included 207 males (41.10%) and 297 females (58.90%). Age demographics showed 144 participants under 30 years old (28.60%), 94 between 31 and 40 years old (18.70%), 143 between 41 and 50 years old (28.40%), 80 between 51 and 60 years old (15.90%), and 43 over 60 years old (8.50%). A large portion of the patients, 74.40% (375 individuals), reported feeling calmer when music was played during dental procedures.
Conclusions: Music interventions are highly effective in reducing anxiety and pain among adult surgical patients. Additionally, music contributes positively to patient comfort during dental treatments.

Keywords: sound effects, healthcare, music therapy in healthcare, therapeutic sound, dental care.