Investigation of the effect of music listened by patients with moderate dental anxiety during the restoration of posterior occlusal dental caries

In this study, the effect of listening to music in patients with moderate dental anxiety who underwent restorative dental treatment on dental anxiety and some physiological parameters that change depending on anxiety was investigated. For the study, 70 patients who were determined to have moderate dental anxiety by MDAS were divided randomly into 2 groups (n=35). As the first group did not listen to music during restorative treatment (control), the second group listened to a musical piece which they chose (experiment). Pulse, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, SpO2 value and body temperature were measured 3 times for each patient before the treatment, after the cavity was opened and at the end of the treatment. Salivary cortisol samples were taken from each patient twice, before and after the treatment. In addition, MDAS was re-administered to the patients at the end of the treatment. The changes in the values were analyzed statistically. It was determined that systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and salivary cortisol values decreased in the experimental group compared to the control group. Although there was a significant decrease in pulse and MDAS values in both groups, this decrease was statistically higher in the experimental group. No significant change was observed in SpO2 and body temperature values in both groups. For patients with moderate dental anxiety listening to a musical piece of their choice during restorative dental treatment is an effective, economical and practical method in terms of reducing anxiety. Key words: dental anxiety, music therapy, MDAS, posterior occlusal caries, pulse, blood pressure, SpO2, body temperature.