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3 Ideas for Relaxing Music for Dental Offices

Written by Kenneth C. Thomalla, CPA, CFP®, CLU® | Jul 7, 2021 1:00:00 PM

There are a lot of options for adding value and patient comfort in a dental office, and one of those is the kind of music being played.

While it's important to offer a selection, it's also vital to consider what kind of relaxing music for dental office needs might be the best choice for your particular patient group. The employees should have some input, as well, since they have to listen to the music all day while the patients will each only be there for a short period of time. 

Why does music matter?

Listening to music is shown to be a major alleviator of stress. While not everyone who comes to the dentist is stressed or nervous about the visit, it's probably safe to assume that a lot of people are uncomfortable. When they listen to relaxing music for dental office comfort, though, they can feel better, safer, and more at ease. The best kind of music for a dental office is usually considered to be slow, quiet, and instrumental. Here's what to consider when looking for dental office music.

Option 1: Classical Music

Most dental offices see classical as the best choice for music in the waiting room. It's naturally instrumental, and it's also easy to hear at low volumes. That way there's pleasant background music, and you don't need to turn it up a lot. You want your patients to be able to hear your employees easily, and loud music can be a big distraction with that. It's particularly difficult if any of your patients are struggling with hearing loss, since music may make it much harder to hear questions and instructions.

Another benefit of classical options when looking for relaxing music for dental office waiting rooms is that there's such a wide variety of it available. There are a lot of different composers, styles, and instrumentations to consider, so you can find plenty of choices and don't need to listen to the same thing on repeat all the time. 

Variety will help you and your employees, as well, because they'll be able to enjoy the music more when they don't feel like they're hearing it too much. You can choose a good mix of composers and styles, too, so that some music is slower and other options are more lively while still retaining a soothing, peaceful quality.

Option 2: Easy Listening

Easy listening was designed for playing during times of stress. That's essentially what it's for. It's easy to listen to, and it's something most people can enjoy. Morning commutes, waiting rooms, holding on phone lines, and other stressful times are some great opportunities to enjoy this type of music. Like classical, there are a lot of different easy listening options for you to choose from. No one wants to hear the same music every single day at work, and your patients probably don't want to hear the same thing every time they come to see you, either. With easy listening, the song selection is large, and you have a lot to choose from.

While not everyone likes easy listening music, it's a good choice for a waiting room because it's calm, quiet and so familiar. Some of your employees -- and even your patients -- may prefer rock music or other options. But that doesn't mean those choices would be a good fit for your overall patient or employee base. Plus, some types of music can stir up emotions and make people more active, which isn't a good thing when you want them to feel calm and sit still in the dental chair.

Option 3: Folk Music

Most folk music is relaxing, and to make it more so you can get folk music options without lyrics. That normally gives you peaceful, pleasant music that includes acoustic guitar, stand-up bass, and light drums. Without the lyrics, your patients won't be tempted to sing along while you're working, either. They can just relax in the waiting room, and read or do other quiet things while they wait for their appointment. Then, during that appointment, the music will also help keep them calm and relaxed. It can be a great way to help your patients and employees feel better during their time in the office, so your practice can be as smooth as possible each day.

There's no reason to settle for silence, or a random radio station that you hope will be a good fit, when you have three big choices to select from. Between folk music, classical music, and easy listening options, there will be thousands of songs and musical pieces to pick from, so you can mix them up and find something that's a good fit. When choosing relaxing music for dental office waiting rooms, it's important to get the best options for the patients who rely on you and the employees who will have the music as the background soundtrack to their lives the entire time they're at work. The calmer everyone stays, the less stressful your overall environment will be.

Soothing Your Patients Is Important

Having good music for your dental office matters, but it's not the only thing to consider. You also need plenty of patients coming in the doors, so your practice can continue to develop. If you want to grow your patient list, check out our e-book for information to consider. There are opportunities to increase the number of patients you see each day, and the overall patient load your business has, in order to have a stronger dental practice.

Advertising is important, of course, but so is giving patients a good experience when they come to your office for help. The right music is a part of that, since it can give patients a calmer, happier, and more relaxed feeling that can be very important to them during a dental visit. Getting nervous is understandable, and you want to make sure your patients are as relaxed and happy as possible.

Sources

https://cloudcovermusic.com/music-psychology/dentist-offices/

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