The eternal question is how to overcome the fear of the dentist. Some people can overcome that fear on their own, but it usually takes much longer than when they receive help. In many people, fear is accompanied by anxiety, which is even harder to overcome. At our center, all dental procedures are performed under local anesthesia, which means there is no pain or major discomfort for the patient. Alongside local anesthesia, we also offer conscious sedation for larger, more complex, or longer-lasting procedures.

A dental clinic without fear

In addition to all of this, the dentists in our center have undergone training in working with patients who experience different types of anxiety. However, we are always searching for new methods and technologies that can make our patients feel even more comfortable during their time with us. Dr. Maja Jagodić-Štimac often emphasizes that when it comes to overcoming the fear of the dentist, trust between the patient and the doctor is especially important.

“When a patient has that trust, when the patient knows the doctor is taking care of them, listening to them, and understands all of their fears, only then do we begin the real fight against fear. When the patient feels that emotion, then all doors are open,” says Dr. Maja Jagodić-Štimac. She adds that she had always wondered whether there was something more that could help patients relax even further. The answer came through the doctoral research of Dr. Nikolina Petek Žugaj.

Musicology and dentistry

“I wanted to offer patients another kind of therapy—the psychological side, not just dental care. So I brought together two things I love: music and dentistry. In the study, we used music to help patients relax,” briefly explained Dr. Petek Žugaj. The research included 230 patients, many of whom showed a high level of anxiety.

“First, through a short questionnaire, we identified what exactly was worrying the patients, and then they chose their own playlist. We played it for them through headphones, so throughout the treatment they listened to something they already listen to at home when they want to relax,” added Dr. Petek Žugaj. The study showed that music through headphones created an additional sense of comfort and provided patients with a kind of “dental wellness” experience. As for the type of music, we expected ambient and instrumental music to dominate, but…

A completely new experience

“According to my research, our people like to identify with local artists. So the most requested performers were Oliver Dragojević, Petar Grašo, Gibonni, and others. We found that people like listening to music that reminds them of beautiful moments in their lives,” Dr. Petek Žugaj told us.

Music therapy is a completely new experience. Recently, we have been studying it intensively, and we believe it will very soon become a standard addition to a pleasant stay in our center. Imagine arriving for your treatment completely relaxed, feeling no pain, enjoying your favorite music during therapy, and going home healthy and happy. That is what we all strive for.

If you’re thinking about improving your health and feeling better in your own skin, now is the perfect time to start. Get in touch with us on +385 1 4059 749 or you can reach us on our free UK number at +44 800 08 68 414. You can also email us at info@drstimac.com, or fill in our online form.