The effect of music and white noise on patients' anxiety and pain during surgery for impacted mandibular third molar: a single-blind randomized controlled trial.

backgroundAnxiety during oral surgery adversely affects patients' compliance with treatment and patient-doctor cooperation. Therefore, various treatment protocols have been developed to reduce anxiety. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of music and white noise on patients' anxiety and pain during surgery for impacted third molars.

methodsAccording to the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials statement, this single-blind, randomized, controlled trial with parallel groups involved 66 patients who met the eligibility criteria and were randomly assigned to one of three groups. Group 1 listened to preselected songs played against a pre-prepared standard "white noise" through noise-isolating headphones that block ambient noise during the procedure. Group 2 listened only to music through noise-isolating headphones during the procedure. Group 3 listened to natural ambient noise during the procedure. All surgical procedures were performed in a standard operating room. All patients completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State (STAI-S) form and indicated their anxiety on a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) preoperatively and postoperatively. They also indicated the pressure/pain level they felt during the procedure on a VAS. The primary predictor variable was the music and white noise intervention. The primary outcome variables were the STAI-S and VAS scores. Sex was included as a covariate.

resultsAnxiety VAS scores were significantly lower postoperatively than preoperatively in Groups 1 (p < 0.001), 2 (p < 0.001), and 3 (p = 0.002). Similarly, STAI-S scores were significantly lower postoperatively than preoperatively in Groups 1 (p < 0.001), 2 (p < 0.001), and 3 (p = 0.012). The change in STAI-S scores (p = 0.053) did not differ significantly between groups.

conclusionAlthough not statistically significant, listening to music alone or with white noise reduced the anxiety experienced by patients during the procedure and increased their comfort. As a simple, inexpensive, and non-invasive method, listening to self-selected music in the preoperative and perioperative periods could benefit patients.