The Effect of Sound in the Dental Office: Practices and Recommendations for Quality Assurance—A Narrative Review

Abstract

Sound is inextricably linked to the human senses and is therefore directly related to the general health of the individual. The aim of the present study is to collect data on the effect of two dimensions of sound, music, and noise from an emotional and functional point of view in the dental office and to perform a thorough review of the relevant literature. We collected articles from the databases PubMed and Google Scholar through keywords that were related to noise and music in healthcare. Important information was also extracted from articles on the web and official websites. Screening of the relevant literature was performed according to accuracy and reliability of the methodology tested. A total of 261 articles were associated to sound and music in healthcare. Ninety-six of them were the most well documented and were thus included in our article. Most of the articles associate noise with negative emotions and a negative impact on performance, while music is associated with positive emotions ranging from emotional state to therapeutic approaches. Few results were found regarding ways to reduce noise in a health facility. If there is a difficulty to find effective methods of reducing the daily noise-inducing sounds in the dental office, we must focus on ways to incorporate music into it as a means of relaxation and therapy.

Eficácia das técnicas de aromaterapia, musicoterapia e hipnose no controle do medo, dor e ansiedade no consultório odontológico

“…Com isso, há controversas na literatura sobre o efeito da musicoterapia controlar as emoções e se realmente pode ser aplicada como terapia ou se funciona como placebo. Os resultados positivos da maioria dos estudos, no entanto, sugerem que o controle sonoro no consultório odontológico melhora a comunicação, a sensação de segurança e o relaxamento em todas as faixas etárias (Antoniadou et al, 2022).…”

Patients’ Perceptions of Sound and Noise Dimensions in the Dental Clinic Soundscape

“…According to the National Research and Safety Institute, new dental equipment typically generates noise levels that remain below 85 dB(A) [8], while sound emitted overall within a dental facility falls overall below 80 dB(A), thus falling within the acceptable thresholds established by the World Health Organization [5,8]. If these limits are exceeded, or the noise is present for a long time during a patient's stay in the dental office, then the sound has a negative effect on the patient's psychology [6].…”

“…The first group includes noises generated by dental equipment [5], which can be reduced by taking appropriate measures. The second group incorporates sounds from within the dental clinic, including interactions between staff and patients, the operation of computers and printers, background music, and television, as well as external sources like traffic and ongoing roadwork sounds [6,7]. According to the National Research and Safety Institute, new dental equipment typically generates noise levels that remain below 85 dB(A) [8], while sound emitted overall within a dental facility falls overall below 80 dB(A), thus falling within the acceptable thresholds established by the World Health Organization [5,8].…”

“…Music, on the other hand, offers not only well-being benefits but also numerous advantages in healthcare settings, from community environments to waiting rooms and surgical settings, where it can serve as background music [6]. Its impact includes mood enhancement, pain and anxiety reduction, improved cardiovascular fitness, mindfulness, and increased social engagement [13].…”

“…Also, listening to music provides an effective, nonpharmacologic option for reducing pre-procedural dental anxiety among dental patients [15]. Music therapy, as a non-invasive and cost-effective intervention, effectively diminishes dental anxiety, thus enhancing the outcomes of medical or dental procedures [6]. Also, music contributes significantly to relaxation, facilitating concentration, and it proves valuable in (a) reducing anxiety and pain levels [6], (b) aiding recovery [4,16], and (c) promoting commitment to essential preventive care [17].…”