Effects of Dental Sound Insulation System on Stress and Dental Fear Reduction in Pediatric Patients

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of dental sound insulation in alleviating stress and fear during dental scaling in pediatric patients. It also examined the influence of a noise-canceling application on dentist-patient communication and convenience of dental procedures. This study included 60 children and adolescents aged 7 - 16 years between April 2022 and March 2023. All participants underwent dental plaque control using an ultrasonic scaler on the maxilla first, followed by plaque control on the mandible. Dental sound insulation with active noise canceling was randomly applied to either the maxilla or mandible. Findings revealed that the stress index was significantly reduced when the application was used, with a score of 5.85 compared to 8.43 without it (p < 0.0001). Similarly, the dental fear score was significantly reduced to 1.17 with the application, as opposed to 2.97 without it (p < 0.0001). The dental sound insulation did not affect the communication between dentists and patients or the convenience of treatment. This study demonstrated that active noise canceling during pediatric dental care significantly reduced stress and fear, suggesting that it could be a valuable behavior guidance tool, particularly for children who find dental visits challenging.