Using music to ease or lessen anxious thoughts or feelings is nothing new, and it’s especially not new in the healthcare industry. Since this discovery and practice, healthcare professionals have been using different genres of music to calm their anxious patients and dental office are no exception.

Overcoming equipment noises and lowering anxiety
30-40 million people a year avoid going to the dentist due to fear. By using music with a bigger intention than to merely entertain or pass the time, a dental office could even see an increase in traffic. Tailored background music has shown the ability to lower heart rates, blood pressure and respiratory rates. When those rates are lowered, anxiety can be lowered. While it could take some work doing it on your own, you’ll want a list that has slower tempos, major keys instead of minors and no heavy effects or distortions.

No commercial interruptions or breaks in music
With radio or other streaming services you’re most likely subject to commercials or DJ interruptions. The break in music could cause your patient to become uneasy or the station could be playing political election ads that just cause more stress (or worse, start playing a commercial for a competing dentist practice). Stressful news reports or bad weather forecasts can also increase the anxiety of a patient during dental work, so providing commercial-free music allows for a more relaxed experience.

Helps build and reinforce your dental practice’s brand
Music helps to not only set a relaxed tone, but also maintain one. You’ll want this tone set from the waiting room to the exam chair and out the door. If a dentist practice has multiple locations and keeping brand uniformity across those brands is a goal, then Mood music allows for that uniformity. Keeping brand uniformity in your dental office helps patients know what to expect, thus helping to lower levels of anxiety.

Not just for patients, but for the staff too
Keeping fresh, tailored music piped into the office isn’t just for the patients, but also the staff. Staff is inside the building longer than patients and more likely to hear repeated playlists; making the day feel like it’s dragging along and lowering worker satisfaction. Fresh playlists without repetition create a great environment for staff and add enjoyment to the daily work routine.

Conclusion

Patients struggling with anxiety before visiting a dentist is nothing new; however, with new media technologies, like Mood, there are more tailored options to help put patients at ease and give them a good atmosphere. While there are other solutions that involve satellite radio and hard media Mood allows a tailored, customized approach that addresses your patient’s anxieties, keeps your overall brand goals in mind and creates a great auditory environment for your staff.

Audio Acoustics has provided Mood services to more than 3,000 businesses in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. We have 50 years experience in the commercial audio-visual sector and are passionate about giving businesses a voice.

Are you looking to make Mood part of your dental office?