The Effect of Music and White Noise on Patients' Anxiety and Pain During Surgery for Impacted Mandibular Third Molar

Our study was carried out on 66 patients, who applied to Ankara University Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, suffering from impacted mandibular third molars.

Group white noise and music listened to a preselected playlist played against a pre-prepared standard white noise through headphones that prevent ambient noise during the procedure. The playlist consisted of popular songs of the time. The patient could choose the music they wanted to listen to from the playlist using a hand-held tablet.

Group music only listened to the same preselected playlist without white noise through noise-isolating headphones during the procedure. The patient could choose the music they wanted to listen to from the playlist using a hand-held tablet.

Group control listened to the natural ambient noise during the procedure.

Surgical Procedure:

All patients were given a mouthwash with chlorhexidine gluconate before the surgery. Before the procedure, Nervus Alveolaris inferior block anesthesia and buccal infiltrative anesthesia were performed with 2.5% articain hydrochloride (Ultracain D-S forte ampoule, Sanofi Aventis) containing 1/100,000 epinephrine as a local anesthetic solution. In all three groups, a mucoperiosteal triangular flap was raised to reach the bone. After removing a sufficient amount of bone, the tooth was removed from the socket using a bein elevator. The original position of the flap was preserved, and the wounds were closed primarily using an atraumatic silk suture.

Data Collection The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State (STAI-S FORM) was administered to the patients before and after the procedure. Marking was made on the form containing a visual analog scale (VAS) for anxiety levels before the procedure. Post-procedure anxiety levels and pain/pressure feelings were marked on a separate form containing a VAS scale, and the desire to have the procedure performed again (1=never, 2=maybe/not sure, 3=willing) was questioned.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients who applied to our clinic for impacted wisdom teeth extraction from the start date of the study
• Patients without any diagnosed psychological disorder
• Patients who gave their own voluntary consent to the study
• Patients who had no medical history that could affect third molar surgery,

Exclusion criteria

• Patients who do not agree to volunteer.
• Patients with any diagnosed psychological disorder
• Patients with mental and physical disorders that may hinder cooperation
• Pregnancy or lactating,
• Antidepressant or anxiolytic drug use, having a disease that could prevent the surgery,
• A severe infection around the impacted third molar
• A prior tooth extraction