Comparative evaluation of anxiety level during restorative treatment using no music, monaural beats, and binaural auditory beats as audio distraction behavior guidance technique in children aged 6-12 years: A randomized clinical trial.

Background: Binaural auditory beat is an auditory illusion perceived when two different pure-tone sine waves with less than a 30 Hz difference are presented to a listener dichotically. Monaural beat stimulation is achieved by the superposition of amplitude-modulated signals of nearby frequencies to both ears simultaneously.

Aim: The study aims to evaluate and compare anxiety level during restorative treatment using no music, monaural beats, and binaural auditory beats as audio distraction behavior guidance techniques in children aged 6-12 years.

Settings and design: Three-arm, parallel-group randomized study was conducted in the department of pediatric and preventive dentistry.

Materials and methods: The sample size of 45 participants was calculated and allocated into three groups as no music, monaural beats, and binaural auditory beats group. Teeth with Class I cavity in primary or permanent molars were prepared and restored. Anxiety was measured pre and postintervention using pulse oximeter and Venham's picture test.

Statistical analysis used: Data obtained were analyzed with SPSS software version 20.0 and were carried out using one-way analysis of variance and dependent t-test and significance value < 0.05 was considered.

Results: Binaural auditory beats and monaural beats showed a better reduction in anxiety levels as per Venham's picture test scores with statistically significant "P" value 0.0001 and 0.064, respectively. Likewise, binaural auditory beats showed better reduction in anxiety levels as per pulse rate scores with statistically significant "P" value 0.0001 as compared to conventional treatment technique.

Conclusion: Binaural auditory beat was found to be the most effective followed by the monaural beat compared to the control group. Thus, binaural auditory beats and monaural beats can be used effectively as an essential aid to reduce anxiety in children.