WVU faculty member develops course for national dentistry journal
Just three elements – melody, harmony, and rhythm – can bring a person comfort. For a child who is experiencing anxiety in a dental clinic, music can make all the difference for positive oral health outcomes.
To help clinicians incorporate music therapy into their practices, West Virginia University School of Dentistry faculty member Elizabeth Southern Puette, RDH, MSDH, developed a continuing education course for Dimensions of Dental Hygiene focusing on music therapy for pediatric patients.
The course, titled “Reducing Dental Anxiety Through Music,” was published in the July/August 2025 issue of the peer-reviewed journal and will be available online through 2028. Co-authors include project lead Tara L. Newcomb, RDH, MSDH, and Josie Mendoza, RDH, MS, CDA.
“I was thrilled to be invited by Professor Newcomb and Josie to work on this continuing education course,” Puette said. “Like Josie, many clinicians have seen positive effects of music therapy firsthand. We wanted to share evidence-based resources with dental teams to consider as they decide if music therapy is a good fit for their practice.”
The evidence-based course provides members of the dental team with the knowledge to discuss the causes of dental anxiety in children, identify how music affects the brain, and describe how to use music therapy in the dental setting to address dental anxiety in children.
Research has shown that dental anxiety among children is common, which can lead to a delay or difficulty in providing treatment. The anxiety can be caused by a variety of factors, including lack of dental awareness, fear of pain and personality traits, but a positive first experience at a dental office can influence future success.
Music affects different parts of the brain that work together to create an emotional response. When applied correctly in a patient care setting, music can reduce anxiety and improve a patient’s mood by addressing physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs.
Following patient assessment, recommended music therapy techniques can allow oral health professionals to successfully complete preventive dental hygiene care and restorative treatments, leading to improved patient outcomes.
“Dental appointments can be stressful,” Puette said. “Adding the option of music is a simple, inexpensive way to make that time a bit more relaxing for the patient, and knowing the patient is less stressed, the appointment can often be more effective for the provider.
“A positive dental visit experience can have a lifetime impact on a child, teen or even a caregiver. If adding music fosters a positive visit, there is great opportunity for clinicians to build long-term trust to meet patient needs in a comfortable, welcoming environment.”
Puette is an assistant professor in the Department of Dental Hygiene and teaches both clinical and didactic courses. She is a Professional Fellow of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, and she serves as the West Virginia Oral Health Champion with the 100 Million Mouths Campaign, an initiative of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Center for Integration of Primary Care and Oral Health to integrate oral health curricula into health profession schools.
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jw/9/25/25
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