A patient says, 'I really hate the sound of the drill.' What should you do?

Offering headphones (or music) is a simple, patient-centered behavior-management technique that directly addresses the stated trigger (the sound) without compromising the quality or efficiency of treatment. Switching to a low-speed handpiece may not be clinically appropriate for the procedure needed, distraction with a ceiling poster doesn't address the auditory trigger as directly, and dismissing the patient is an excessive, unhelpful overreaction to ordinary dental anxiety.