111 - Decreasing Appointment Durations For Pediatric Patients: A Quality Improvement Project

Abstract:

Purpose: This quality improvement (QI) project evaluated whether playing calming instrumental music during operative dental appointments for pediatric patients ages 9–12, with and without nitrous oxide, would reduce appointment durations and improve process stability at a community health center.

Methods: A QI project, utilizing the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Model for Improvement methods, was conducted at the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center. The pre-intervention phase (March–May 2025) included providing standard care without music, and the post-intervention phase (June–September 2025) included playing instrumental music during operative procedures. Appointment durations were recorded manually and analyzed using X̄ and R control charts to compare mean duration, variability, and process stability before and after the intervention.

Results: For patients who received nitrous oxide, mean appointment duration decreased from 26 to 20 minutes (23.1%), and the stability index improved from 1.64 to 0.53. For patients who did not receive nitrous oxide, mean duration decreased from 27 to 22 minutes (18.5%), and the stability index improved from 1.77 to 0.92.



Conclusions: Playing calming instrumental music demonstrated shorter, more consistent operative appointment durations for pediatric dental patients.

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