Soundtrack your visit to Geoff Thomas Dental

The dental practice based in Manly, Sydney, utilises music in numerous ways to manage client anxiety before a dentist appointment.

You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who enjoys going to the dentist. In fact, there exists a Dental Fear Scale, which is an official measure of the level of anxiety that numerous people feel when they go to the dentist.

A 2014 research study in India indicated that playing music in the reception area before a dental procedure reduced the Dental Fear Scale level of patients. Putting this and much more into practice, OneMusic licensees Geoff Thomas Dental based in Manly, Sydney, utilise music to keep clients happy and lower their fear levels in check when attending a dentist appointment.

Upon entering reception, right up until they leave the practice, Geoff Thomas Dental soundtracks the entire patient experience. “At our practice, the calming effect of music begins when they are in the waiting room and once inside the suite, music masks the equipment noise and helps to relax and distract,” said owner Geoff Thomas.

In the waiting room, the clients are exposed to music which is set to relax them before their appointment begins, and a significant amount of thought is put into this. “The music taste of staff could be quite different to that of our older clients, teens, primary school kids. The way we have got around that is to look at who has booked in and play music in the waiting room which we think will appeals to the majority at that time,” Geoff said.

The soundtrack to the actual appointment is chosen by the client themselves, which allows for a unique, personalised experience that ensures the patient has an opportunity to keep their dental anxiety down. “Clients can select their playlist at reception, we have about 20 choices for our clients (and more if they ask), so when they enter the suite the more familiar tracks also help to soothe fears,” Geoff explained.

The practice has put a lot of effort into the client experience, resulting in numerous positive testimonials, and music is the heart and soul of this. Geoff Thomas Dental is an example of how music can be valuable in an industry where clients would normally not actively engage with it.

To read more about music licences for your practice, head to our Retail and Service Providers licence scheme page.