The effects of music on dental care: a literature review

Abstract

Dental anxiety is a common problem in dental care due to its impact on patient behavior, treatment continuity, and the clinical experience. The objective of this literature review was to examine the available scientific evidence on the effect of music, music therapy, and musical/sound-based auditory interventions in dental care, in relation to anxiety, pain perception, and physiological parameters. A systematic search strategy was employed, following the PRISMA 2020 statement. The search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and SciELO, considering studies published between April 2014 and July 2025. Primary studies in humans, published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese, and with access to the full text, were included. Of the 327 records identified, 47 duplicates were removed; the remaining 280 were screened by title and abstract, resulting in the exclusion of 163; the full texts of the remaining 117 were then reviewed, of which 92 were excluded; finally, 25 studies were included in the review. The evidence showed more consistent effects on reducing dental anxiety, while the results regarding pain and physiological parameters were more variable. It is concluded that music may constitute a complementary, safe, accessible, and low-cost strategy for improving the patient experience during dental care.