Title |
Using A Noise Canceling Audio Device As A Means To Help Calm A Dental Patient With Anxiety |
Clinical Question |
In an anxious patient, does a noise canceling audio device have the ability to relax the patient more than an audio device alone? |
Clinical Bottom Line |
More research is needed to conclude whether a noise canceling audio device is more effective at reducing dental anxiety than an audio device alone. However, research does conclude that music distraction is successful in reducing a patient’s anxiety during dental treatment. (See Comments on the CAT below) |
Best Evidence |
|
PubMed ID |
Author / Year |
Patient Group |
Study type
(level of evidence) |
15259973 | Canbek/2004 | 254 Healthy patients from the university clinic with an average age of 32 | Crossover Study | Key results | The use of masking noises in a test period of 15 minutes led to a significant reduction (p = 0.0017) in patient’s perceptions of noise experienced during dental treatment compared to no masking noise. | 18310736 | Lahman/2008 | Patients with dental anxiety | Randomized Control Trial | Key results | While music distraction resulted in a significant reduction in anxiety state in comparison with no intervention (C) (P < .05), the anxiety reduction following brief relaxation was greater than that in the control (P < .001) and music distraction (P < .001) groups. | |
Evidence Search |
#20 Search noise cancellation#18 Search “Relaxation” [(Mesh)] AND “Relaxation Therapy” [(Mesh)] #15 Search (“Noise” [(Mesh)] AND “Dental Anxiety” [Majr] #11 Search (relaxation [MeSH Terms]) AND #10#10 Search “Dental Anxiety” [Majr]#9 Search (“MP3-Player” [Mesh]) AND “Relaxation” [Mesh] AND “Relaxation Therapy” [Mesh]) |
Comments on
The Evidence |
Both study designs included groups that were similar at the start with greater than 80% completion rate and adequate follow-up. The 2004 study treated the treatment group the same whereas the 2008 study treated the groups differently. Neither study used double-blind randomization and had little to no recall bias or competing interests. |
Applicability |
Both studies are applicable to patients who experience anxiety prior to routine dental treatment, not including those patients who are phobic or have experienced psychological trauma from prior treatment. |
Specialty |
(Public Health) (Endodontics) (General Dentistry) (Oral Surgery) (Orthodontics) (Pediatric Dentistry) (Periodontics) (Prosthodontics) (Restorative Dentistry) (Behavioral Science) |
Keywords |
dental anxiety, audio device, stress reduction, dental treatment, relaxation
|
ID# |
776 |
Date of submission |
03/23/2011 |
E-mail |
baumgarten@livemail.UTHSCSA.edu |
Author |
Janelle Baumgarten |
Co-author(s) |
|
Co-author(s) e-mail |
|
Faculty mentor |
David Cox, DDS |
Faculty mentor e-mail |
CoxD@uthscsa.edu |
|
|
Basic Science Rationale
(Mechanisms that may account for and/or explain the clinical question, i.e. is the answer to the clinical question consistent with basic biological, physical and/or behavioral science principles, laws and research?) |
None available | |
|
Comments and Evidence-Based Updates on the CAT
(FOR PRACTICING DENTISTS', FACULTY, RESIDENTS and/or STUDENTS COMMENTS ON PUBLISHED CATs) |
by Ibrahim Houari, Chad Stapleton, Brad Seddighzadeh (San Antonio, TX) on 01/06/2014 A PubMed search for anxiety and noise on January 2014 only found a limited number of resources pertaining to multiple disciplines. PubMed: 24358573 did not pertain directly to dentistry but discussed music therapy in addition to analgesics for postoperative pain management. | |