Efectividad de la musicoterapia en el control de ansiedad infantil durante tratamientos odontológicos, UCSG A-2025.

Abstract

Introduction: Dental anxiety is common in pediatric patients, affecting their cooperation and the effectiveness of dental treatments. Music therapy has been proposed as a non-pharmacological strategy capable of modulating the emotional and physiological state of children during dental care. Objective: To evaluate the influence of music therapy on anxiety reduction in children treated at the Dental Clinic of the Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil, period A-2025.Materials and Methods: A randomized, experimental, longitudinal, prospective, and comparative clinical trial was conducted with 20 children aged 5–11 years: an experimental group (n=10) and a control group (n=10). Heart rate (HR), oxygen saturation (SpO₂), and anxiety levels were recorded using the RMS-PS Pictorial Scale before, during, and after dental care. Statistical analysis included non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon, and Friedman) with a significance level of p<0.05. Results: The experimental group showed a trend toward reduced heart rate (88.0 to 83.0 bpm), while oxygen saturation remained within normal physiological ranges in both groups. Anxiety levels slightly decreased in the experimental group (Δ=−0.10) and increased in the control group (Δ=+0.80). However, these changes were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: Music therapy showed a non-significant trend toward reducing anxiety and heart rate in children during dental care, suggesting it could be a safe and accessible adjunctive strategy.