# Patients' Perceptions of Sound and Noise Dimensions in the Dental Clinic Soundscape
###### Abstract  
In the area of dental healthcare services, where patients and professionals deal with multiple auditory stimuli, this cross-sectional study reports on the various dynamics of sound preferences, noise obstacles, and the profound impact of music on anxiety reduction within dental office settings. The sample comprises 134 dental patients, primarily females (56.7%), with varying age groups, education levels, and therapy durations in the university clinics of the Department of Dentistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and four private dental offices at the metropolitan area of Athens, Greece. Notably, 92.5% of the participants reported no hearing loss, and 56.7% exhibited some level of noise sensitivity. This study reveals a moderate to good perceived health status (M = 3.84, SD = 0.95) among participants, with low perceived noise disturbance in university dental clinics. Preferences for instrumental music, foreign pop, and classical music are prominent during waiting times. Potential irritations include impersonal treatment (44%) and staff behavior (41.8%). Correlations and predictors indicate associations between age, gender, educational status, music preferences, and noise disturbances. Findings aim to optimize eco-soundscapes in dental offices, contributing to enhanced patient well-being. The research underscores the potential of music interventions to alleviate dental anxiety and improve the overall dental experience and quality care. d 20242024  
anxiety. In fact, noise-induced fear or anxiety ranks as the third most common reason for avoiding dental appointments [2]. Patients frequently perceive the dental clinic as an inhospitable and anxiety-inducing place, primarily due to the presence of disruptive and loud noises [10]. On the other hand, dental healthcare facilities frequently accommodate individuals with dental anxiety and phobias who exhibit heightened sensitivity to both sound and tactile sensations [11; 12]. Such anxious patients may become uncooperative and pose increased challenges in the management of dental therapies [2; 11]. 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]. Patients can use music as a self-management technique to reduce or control discomfort in these environments [14]. 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]. Understanding the above-mentioned positive effects of music on patients' anxiety is then essential for improving the overall patient experience, their well-being, and the well-being of dental professionals working in the area [18]. It also influences the sustainability of the setting in strategic management and marketing issues [19]. Thus, several studies have already investigated the potential of music as a non-pharmacological intervention to reduce anxiety levels in patients undergoing dental procedures [6; 20; 21] by affecting subjective anxiety scales and objective physiological parameters, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol hormones in patients with moderate dental anxiety during dental procedures [22].