A child’s first dental visit is pivotal for reduction of dental anxiety and for success of treatment in future. If this is not managed, it might possibly continue in their adolescence¹. Fear and stress are the main factors that cause anxiety in children when they undergo dental treatment. Numerous factors are responsible for these situations, such as dental instruments and equipment and negative experiences of family members from dental treatment. The child’s hesitancy or uncooperative behavior may curb the effective delivery of dental care that may compromise the quality of treatment provided.²

The role of pediatric dentist in managing an anxious child is not only to control the ailment with which the child reports but also to teach the child appropriate means to manage dental fear. One such non-aversive modality to manage a child appropriately in dental clinic is distraction. The disruptive behavior of few pediatric dental patients’ can be controlled by diverting their attention and engaging them in alternative activities like watching TV, playing video games, or listening to audio taped music. Thus, it enhances child’s effective coping skills for acceptance of dental treatment.³

Music reduces anxiety through its effect on the autonomic nervous responses which regulates bodily functions such as the heart rate, digestion, respiratory rate and pupillary response. Secondly, the anxiolytic effect of music is achieved through its suppressive action on the sympathetic nervous system, leading to lowered adrenergic activity and fall in neuromuscular arousal.⁴

Moreover, to avoid the side effects of the various drugs, patients opt for conservative approaches like music therapy which is an effective, non�’invasive and cost�’effective intervention, which decreases anxiety and therefore optimizes the outcome of a medical intervention. The assessment of anxiety will be done using Venham’s picture test, pulse rate will be measured using pulse oximeter during first dental visit.⁵

During the literature search we found that no such studies have been conducted where comparison of anxiety levels has been done using nursery rhymes and music of choice of the children vising dental clinic.  In this research, we will be aiming to study the role of music therapy on reducing dental anxiety in patients undergoing restorations, so that various pharmacological methods for reducing anxiety can be avoided.⁶