About us
Using Music to Overcome the Fear of the Dentist
Dr. Nikolina Petek Žugaj, a lifelong musician, has combined her passion for music with her dedication to patients’ emotional well-being by developing protocols for the use of music therapy and vibroacoustic techniques in dental medicine. These methods were designed to help the most sensitive patients – children and those who experience dental anxiety – allowing them to feel calm, comfortable, and safe during dental treatments.
Based on her own research, Dr. Petek Žugaj has scientifically proven that music therapy and vibroacoustics significantly reduce anxiety levels in patients with dental fear, representing a valuable contribution to the scientific community and to modern dental care.
Dr. Nikolina Petek Žugaj, DMD
Nikolina Petek Žugaj Born in Zagreb, Dr. Nikolina Petek Žugaj graduated from the Faculty of Dental Medicine at the University of Zagreb in 2011.
She is currently completing her postgraduate doctoral studies, focusing on Relaxation Techniques in Anxious Patients and Patients with Dental Phobia. She continuously advances her professional expertise through national and international courses and conferences, keeping pace with the latest developments in dental medicine. Svoje bogato radno iskustvo stjecala je u uglednim zagrebačkim klinikama te kroz rad u dentalnom turizmu.
She is the founder and director of MUSICDENT, a private healthcare institution that introduced a completely new approach to dental care, emphasizing patients’ emotional safety and psychological comfort.
Her special focus lies in the treatment of children and patients with dental anxiety through relaxation techniques, psychological support, and cognitive-behavioral methods.
Beyond her medical career, Dr. Petek Žugaj’s artistic sensibility is reflected in her long-term engagement with folklore ensembles KUD Bukovac and SKUD Ivan Goran Kovačić, with which she participated in numerous performances and projects, including the recording of four albums—one of which earned her the Rector’s Award.
As a lifelong musician, she has developed innovative protocols for the use of music therapy and vibroacoustics in dentistry. Her research has scientifically demonstrated that these techniques greatly reduce anxiety in patients with dental fear. This unique combination of science and art is applied daily at MUSICDENT to provide patients with a calm, pleasant, and stress-free experience during their treatments.
Her work is grounded in a deep understanding of patients’ emotions and an exceptional sensitivity to their needs—especially those who struggle with fear or anxiety when visiting the dentist.
Her mission is to deliver top-quality dental care in an atmosphere of understanding, empathy, and trust, transforming dental visits into positive and relaxing experiences.
Additional Education
- CAD/CAM Restorations, Sanitaria
- Specialist Course: “New Trends in Dental Medicine 2013” (2013)
- Christmas in Zagreb – International Congress of the Croatian Chamber of Dental Medicine (2015)
- Christmas in Zagreb: Dental Medicine as Art and Vocation (2016)
- 3rd International Congress of the School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb (2017)
- DENTEX 2018 – Continuing Education Course (2018)
- Kulzer Restorative Dentistry Training: Tooth Preparation and Impression Techniques, Zagreb (2018)
- AMANN GIRRBACH: Artex Model Management 1 & 2, Zagreb (2018)
- 4th International Congress of the School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb (2018)
- Ultradent Workshop: Tooth Whitening – OPALESCENCE System, Sanitaria
- “Little Patients, Big Challenge”, School of Dental Medicine, Zagreb (2019)
- 8th International Congress of the School of Dental Medicine, Rovinj (2022)
- Dentex 2022 Congress, Zagreb (2022)
- Emergency Situations in Dental Practice in 7 Steps, School of Dental Medicine, Zagreb (2023)
- Injection Technique – Composite Veneers, David Geštakovski (2024)
- Suturing Techniques in the Orofacial Region and Extraction Socket Augmentation, Croatian Chamber of Dental Medicine (2024)
