Effect of listening to music among patients with dental anxiety

Listening to music during dental treatment is widely accepted as a relaxation method. However, its effects are unclear on the psychological and vital parameters. Patients who came to the Government Hospital of 18 - 60 years old, medically fit and indicated for dental extraction and exhibiting dental anxiety were included in the study. Music was not played in the control group (n=100) whereas in the experimental group (n=100), music was played according to patients' preference under the genre western, classical, or popular. Blood pressure, Body temperature, Pulse rate, Oxygen saturation and Respiratory rate were recorded. Results showed no statistical difference between the control and experimental group except the respiratory rate which increased statistically in both control and experimental group. Thus, the current study reveals that the effect of music over an invasive procedure like extraction that has been perceived as painful treatment for a long time has little effect on adult patients.