The Science of Relaxing Music in the Dentist's Waiting Room

Imagine sitting in the dentist's waiting room, your heart pounding and palms sweating as you anticipate the upcoming procedure. Now, envisage the calming melody of a classic tune wafting through the air, easing your anxiety. This isn't just a hypothetical scenario; recent research suggests that certain songs can profoundly affect our nerves in medical settings.

The Impact of Music on Patient Experience

The choice of music in a dentist's waiting room goes beyond filling the silence. It can actually play a role in determining how patients perceive and experience their treatments. Digital healthcare platform Tebra conducted a survey to explore how different musical genres affect people in such stressful environments. Interestingly, many participants cited classical music as the most relaxing genre to listen to while awaiting a medical appointment.

The Quintessential Calming Track

But when it came to a specific song that brought the most calm and relaxation, 'Don't Stop Believin'' by Journey emerged as the clear favorite among those surveyed. On the flip side, genres like metal, hip-hop/rap, and gospel were the least preferred, with some suggesting they could increase stress levels in a medical context.

Spotify's Findings on Music Preferences

An expansive analysis of Spotify playlists with the terms doctor's or dentist's office waiting room revealed some fascinating trends. Notably, over 59,000 songs were considered, and additional input was garnered from a survey of 1,002 Americans on their music preferences and health habits.

Participants shared their thoughts on what types of music were most relaxing or stressful in a doctor's setting, and which songs they would prefer to hear in the waiting room. Aside from 'Don't Stop Believin'', tracks like 'I'm Like A Bird' by Nelly Furtado and 'Africa' by TOTO also ranked high in preference.

A Surprising Link Between Classical Music and Pain

Despite its reputation for relaxation, classical music was paradoxically associated with pain during medical experiences. In contrast, country music was linked to anxiety and jazz to shorter wait times.

The World's Most Relaxing Songs, According to Spotify

Separately, Spotify's quest to find the world's most relaxing songs resulted in an assemblage of 20 tracks proven to soothe the soul. Ed Sheeran's 'Perfect' and 'Thinking out Loud' were among the top picks for creating a peaceful mind, alongside songs by John Legend, Surf Mesa, and Coldplay. Furthermore, the streaming service's most soothing artist turned out to be Pritam, a decorated Bollywood composer with numerous tracks in the top rankings of Spotify's chill playlists.

Scientific Evidence Supporting Music for Surgery Patients

In a review published in the Lancet in 2015, 72 trials with almost 7,000 patients were examined to understand the impact of music on surgical patients. The results were telling – those who listened to music experienced notably less anxiety and required less pain medication post-surgery. This effect persisted whether the music was played before, during, or after the operation, hinting that even under unconscious states, the benefits of music could still be felt.

music, anxiety, science