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Impact of Music Distraction on Dental Anxiety in Children Having Intellectual Disability

Abstract:

Aim and objective: To analyze the impact of Indian instrumental music on children with intellectual disability (mild) exhibiting dental anxiety during dental procedures using electrical skin resistance measured by a biofeedback machine.
Materials and methods: A total of 20 children of 6–14 years having an intellectual disability (mild) were randomly divided into two groups comprising of 10 each. The study was carried out in a cross-over design, with and without music distraction, in two appointments spaced out at a gap of 1 month. The children were subjected to a dental examination, oral prophylaxis, and auditory operative stimuli in both appointments. The electrical skin resistance during each procedure was measured using a galvanic skin response (GSR) biofeedback machine and the values were statistically analyzed using paired and unpaired t-tests.
Results: A statistically significant increase in electrical resistance was observed during music distraction, which indicated an anxiety reduction when music distraction was employed.
Conclusion: The increased electrical skin resistance due to low anxiety proves the positive impact of music distraction in intellectually disabled children.
Clinical significance: Music can be employed as a distraction technique to reduce anxiety in intellectually disabled children.