The Effect of Auditory Distraction and Suggestion on Tolerance for Dental Restorations in Adolescents and Young Adults

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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of auditory distraction (self-selected music) and suggestion on tolerance for dental treatments in adolescents and young adults. Forty subjects (ages 13–25) requiring restorative dental treatment participated in the study. Individual subject differences for anxiety and perceived control in a dental setting were measured during a screening appointment. No significant difference was found between the adults and adolescents on these measures. During the second appointment, subjects received standard dental treatment with local anesthesia along with auditory stimulus and suggestion that the auditory distractor would be effective. Following treatment, subjects reported levels of pain, distress, helplessness and tension using a visual analog scale. T tests revealed significant difference (p < .01) between adolescent and adult subjects on the measure of helplessness. Susceptibility to suggestion was believed to have contributed to this outcome. Other dependent measures were marginally significant (p < .10) or nonsignificant.

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