Reducing Dental Anxiety Through Music

An important and compelling consideration when caring for children, dental anxiety is fear, nervousness, apprehension, or stress associated with a dental setting and/or procedure. ^1-3 Approximately 6.3% to 43% of children experience some level of dental anxiety.^1-4 More specifically, 51% of children and 22% of teens experience mild, moderate, or severe dental anxiety.⁴

Research indicates that age may play a significant role in the acceptance of dental care by a child with anxiety, and that levels of anxiety may decrease with age and over time.^1-4 Children who have no experiences at a dental office or who have had treatment for caries lesions are at increased risk of experiencing dental anxiety and fear.⁵

Dental fear can elicit an emotional response to a specific stimulus in the dental setting, often delaying or making treatment difficult. Generally, anxiety is a condition classified as an “intense feeling of dread” in addition to somatic symptoms that trigger the autonomic nervous system. Physiological signs of anxiety can include sweating, increased blood pressure, tachycardia, palpitations, dry mouth, diarrhea, muscle tension, and hyperventilation.⁴ Fear and stress can induce anxiety in pediatric dental patients.⁴

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* References and figures can be found in the original article via the link above.