The Effect of Music on Children’s Anxiety During Dental Treatment Zuhair M Alkahtani, Meer Zakirulla * , Elaf S Alshehri, Asma M Alqahtani, Maha M Alshehri Department of Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontic Sciences, College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ABSTRACT Background: Dental visits are a significant fear among five to six percent of the population. Music distraction has been demonstrated as an effective destraction method in reducing dental anxiety. This study aimed to determine the effect of music on children’s anxiety during dental treatment. Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey, in which we included a convenience sample of 50 children aged between five and 14 years. The sample consisted of children who attended the female outpatient pediatric dentistry clinics at the College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia. Data was collected using a survey questionnaire given to patients before and after the treatment procedure. The questionnaire asked about the anxiety levels related to dental treatment using the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale faces version (MCDASf). The study data was collected and then analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS 20). Results: Thirty-one participants (62%) were relaxed when asked about their feelings toward dentists in general after music therapy, compared to 22 (44%) before music therapy. Thirty six participants (72%) were relaxed, when asked about their feelings toward checking their teeth after music therapy, compared to 24 (48%) before music therapy. Thirty nine participants (78%) felt relaxed when the treatment was done with music therapy, compared to 25 (50%) before music. Forty participants (80%) reported that they felt calm and comfortable when they listened to music during treatment. Conclusions: Dental treatment for an anxious pediatric patient is challenging. Many non-pharmacological behavior management techniques were introduced, including distraction. This study indicated that music distraction could decrease the anxiety and stress levels of pediatric patients during dental treatment. Key words: Anxiety, Dentistry, Music, Child, Saudi Arabia HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Zuhair M Alkahtani, Meer Zakirulla, Elaf S Alshehri, Asma M Alqahtani, Maha M Alshehri, The Effect of Music on Children’s Anxiety During Dental Treatment, J Res Med Dent Sci, 2020, 8(3): 39-43 Corresponding author: Meer Zakirulla e-mail✉: drzak786@gmail.com Received: 16/03/2020 Accepted: 20/04/2020 INTRODUCTION Dental anxiety can be defined as a state where an individual is evoked and prepared for something to happen, with a non-specific feeling of apprehension associated with abnormal conditions. The etiology of dental anxiety can be attributed to traumatic or painful dental experiences as well as fearful attitudes learned from a dentally anxious family member [1]. Negative dental experiences, especially those resulting from dental pain, can lead to the development of fear and anxiety. This as a result can lead to the avoidance of further dental treatment. Children can be fearful when visiting the dental clinic, especially in the dental waiting area. Pediatric patients having dental fear and anxiety are of concern during dental treatment and are very challenging [2]. Therefore, many children with dental anxiety and fear escape dental treatment thus resulting in compromised treatment. Dental visits are a significant fear among five to six percent of the population. Moreover, this proportion can be up to 16% in children [3]. Unlike adults, many children are not able to express their anxiety and fear; this can affect their behaviour during dental treatment. As a result, the child may be labelled as “uncooperative”. The American Academy of Pediatric dentistry has a vital role in decreasing dental fear and anxiety by proposing many pharmacological and non-pharmacological behavior management techniques [3,4]. Research has shown that distraction is an effective type of behavior management techniques for child patients and would help in providing dental treatment. Music is an innovative art that exists in all cultures. Music has an intrinsic expressive power by enhancing spiritual and cultural enrichment. It has many benefits to the body by changes in heat and respiration rate and pleasing experiences [5]. Music distraction is considered to be an efficient, relaxation practice. It is considered safe and inexpensive, which can help during short and painful dental procedures [6]. Music distraction Journal of Research in Medical and Dental Science 2020, Volume 8, Issue 3, Page No: 39-43 Copyright CC BY-NC 4.0 Available Online at: www.jrmds.in eISSN No.2347-2367: pISSN No.2347-2545 JRMDS J o u r n a l o f R e s e a r c h i n M e d i c a l a n d D e n t a l S c i e n c e Journal of Research in Medical and Dental Science | Vol. 8 | Issue 3 | May 2020 39