The Effect Of Music On Dental Anxiety In Children

This study aimed to evaluate the perioperative effectiveness of music by considering the relationships between dental anxiety measurement tools. The study protocol was approved by the ethics committee (No. 2024/05-32). A randomized controlled study was conducted in which 78 children aged 9-12 were divided into control and experimental groups. The control group only received the basic behavior guidance, while the experimental group received the basic behavior guidance and was exposed to classical music. The children’s anxiety levels were assessed perioperatively using the Children’s Anxiety Meter-State (CAMS), Children’s Emotional Manifestation Scale (CEMS), and Children’s Experiences of Dental Anxiety Measure (CEDAM) short form. The validity and reliability of the CEDAM were evaluated prior to its application. A conceptual model was established comprising two internal variables (intraoperative and postoperative anxiety) and two external variables (preoperative anxiety and music). Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. The results support the reliability and validity of the CEDAM. A significant difference was found between the control and experimental groups in dental anxiety measurement tools (p<0.001). A high positive correlation was obtained between the CAMS/CEDAM short form and CEMS/CAMS values (p<0.001). In the conceptual model, while no effects of preoperative and intraoperative anxiety variables were observed on postoperative anxiety levels (p>0.05), the music variable was observed to have an effect (ß=-0.504, p<0.001). The findings indicate that music a nonpharmacological alternative that reduces dental anxiety levels in children.