Evaluation of The Role of Music and Bach Flower Remedies in The Management of Anxious Pediatric Dental Patients: A Randomised Clinical Trial

Year 2024, Volume: 14 Issue: 4, 882 - 888

Canan Bayraktar , Sümeyra Akkoç

https://doi.org/10.33808/clinexphealthsci.1485687

Abstract

Objective: Dental fear and anxiety describe negative feelings towards the dental environment, particularly significant in pediatric dentistry due to their cognitive, behavioral, and physical impacts on children. Managing this anxiety through positive dentist-child relationships and behavioral guidance techniques is crucial. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of passive distraction using music and Bach flower remedy in reducing dental fear and anxiety in children aged 6-8 years.
Methods: This randomized controlled clinical study included 12 children (n=4 for each group) aged 6-8 years, randomly assigned to Group 1 (control), Group 2 (Bach flower remedy), or Group 3 (passive distraction with music) for treating superficial dentin caries in primary teeth without local anesthesia. Dental fear and anxiety levels were assessed using objective (heart rate, oxygen saturation, systolic and diastolic blood pressure) and subjective (Facial Image Scale and Venham’s Picture Test) measures before and after treatment.
Results: The study included 12 children (6 female, 6 male) with a mean age of 7.3±0.8 years. In Group 2, heart rate significantly decreased after treatment (97.8 ± 10.1 to 90.5 ± 8.8, p<.05). However, no statistically significant differences were found between Groups 1, 2, and 3 in either objective or subjective measures when comparing before and after treatment results (p>.05).
Conclusion: In this study, although passive distraction with music and Bach flowers did not have a significant effect on physiological and projective measurement tools in children with dental fear and anxiety, a decrease in heart rate was observed in children exposed to Bach flowers.

Keywords

Dental fear, dental anxiety, bach flower remedy, passive distraction with music

Ethical Statement

This randomized controlled study protocol was approved by the Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University Clinical Research Local Ethics Committee (Approval No. 22-KAEK-068 and dated 31.03.2022).

Supporting Institution

None

Thanks

None

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