Effect of Nature Sounds During Dental Filling on Anxiety in Older Adults

March 4, 2026 updated by: EMRE ERKAL

The Effect of Listening to Nature Sounds During Dental Filling Procedures on Anxiety, Fear, and Patient Satisfaction in Older Adults

Dental anxiety is common among older adults and may lead to delayed or avoided dental treatment, which can negatively affect oral health. Non-pharmacological approaches such as auditory interventions have been suggested as simple methods to reduce anxiety during dental procedures.

The aim of this randomized controlled study is to evaluate the effect of listening to nature sounds during dental filling procedures on anxiety, fear, and patient satisfaction in older adults. The study will be conducted at Artvin Oral and Dental Health Center with individuals aged 65 years and older who require dental filling treatment.

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: a nature sound group, a white noise (placebo) group, and a control group. Individuals in the nature sound group will listen to recorded natural sounds, including ocean waves, bird songs, and light rain, through wireless headphones for 15 minutes during the dental filling procedure. Participants in the placebo group will listen to white noise for the same duration, while the control group will receive routine dental treatment without any auditory intervention.

Anxiety, fear, and patient satisfaction will be measured before and after the dental procedure using standardized assessment tools, including the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and visual analog scales. The results of this study may provide evidence on whether natural sound exposure can be an effective, simple, and non-invasive method to reduce anxiety and improve patient comfort during dental procedures in older adults.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Dental anxiety is a common problem among older adults and may lead to avoidance or delay of necessary dental treatment. High levels of dental anxiety are associated with poorer oral health outcomes, reduced treatment compliance, and decreased patient satisfaction. Dental procedures such as dental filling treatments may increase fear and anxiety due to perceived pain, noise from dental equipment, and loss of control during the procedure. Therefore, developing simple and non-pharmacological strategies to reduce anxiety during dental treatment is important for improving patient comfort and treatment outcomes.

Natural environmental sounds have been shown to have relaxing and stress-reducing effects in various healthcare settings. Exposure to sounds such as ocean waves, bird songs, and rainfall has been associated with reduced stress, improved mood, and enhanced recovery in patients undergoing medical procedures. However, there is limited evidence regarding the effects of natural sounds on anxiety and fear during dental procedures, particularly among older adults.

This study aims to evaluate the effect of listening to nature sounds during dental filling procedures on anxiety, fear, and patient satisfaction in older adults. The study will be designed as a randomized, placebo-controlled experimental trial conducted at the Artvin Oral and Dental Health Center. Individuals aged 65 years and older who require dental filling treatment and meet the inclusion criteria will be invited to participate in the study. After providing informed consent, participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: a nature sound intervention group, a white noise placebo group, or a control group.

Participants in the intervention group will listen to recorded nature sounds, including ocean waves, bird songs, and light rain, through wireless headphones for 15 minutes during the dental filling procedure. Participants in the placebo group will listen to white noise through headphones for the same duration, while participants in the control group will receive routine dental treatment without any auditory intervention.

Data will be collected before and after the dental procedure. Participants will complete a patient information form and standardized assessment tools. Anxiety will be assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (state anxiety section), while fear and patient satisfaction will be evaluated using Visual Analog Scales (VAS). Cognitive status will be screened using the Mini-Mental State Examination to ensure participant eligibility.

The collected data will be analyzed using statistical software. Descriptive statistics will be calculated for demographic and clinical variables. Differences between groups and time points will be evaluated using appropriate statistical tests, including repeated measures analyses. The results of this study may provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of natural sound interventions as a simple and non-invasive approach to reduce anxiety and improve patient experience during dental procedures in older adults.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

78

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 65 years or older
  • Patients scheduled to undergo dental filling treatment
  • Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ≥ 24
  • Ability to communicate and understand study procedures
  • No hearing impairment that would prevent listening to audio through headphones
  • Willingness to participate and provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Use of antidepressant medications
  • Presence of severe cognitive impairment (MMSE < 24)
  • Hearing impairment preventing participation in the auditory intervention
  • Communication problems that may interfere with questionnaire completion
  • Refusal or inability to provide informed consent

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Nature Sounds Group
Participants will listen to recorded natural sounds including ocean waves, bird songs, and light rain through wireless headphones for 15 minutes during the dental filling procedure.
Behavioral: Nature Sounds
Participants will listen to recorded natural sounds including ocean waves, bird songs, and light rain through wireless headphones for 15 minutes during the dental filling procedure.
Placebo Comparator: White Noise Group
Participants will listen to white noise through headphones for 15 minutes during the dental filling procedure.
Other: White Noise
Participants will listen to white noise through headphones for 15 minutes during the dental filling procedure.
No Intervention: Control Group
Participants will receive routine dental filling treatment without any auditory intervention.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
State Anxiety Score (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - STAI)
Time Frame: Before the dental filling procedure and immediately after the procedure (approximately 15-30 minutes)
Change in state anxiety levels measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (State Anxiety subscale) before and after the dental filling procedure.
Before the dental filling procedure and immediately after the procedure (approximately 15-30 minutes)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Fear Level (Visual Analog Scale)
Time Frame: Before the dental filling procedure and immediately after the procedure
Fear intensity measured using a 0-10 Visual Analog Scale (VAS), where higher scores indicate greater fear related to the dental procedure.
Before the dental filling procedure and immediately after the procedure
Patient Satisfaction (Visual Analog Scale)
Time Frame: Immediately after the dental filling procedure
Patient satisfaction with the dental filling procedure measured using a 0-10 Visual Analog Scale (VAS), where higher scores indicate greater satisfaction.
Immediately after the dental filling procedure

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

EMRE ERKAL

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

March 15, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

March 15, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

March 20, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 4, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 4, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

March 9, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 9, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 4, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • ACU-NS-2026-01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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