The Effect of Cartoon and Music Applications on Dental Pain

The Effect of Showing Cartoons and Playing Music During Dental Treatment on Pain and Treatment Anxiety in Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study investigated the effect of showing cartoons or playing music during the procedure on the physiological parameters of pain and fear experienced by children aged 6-12 undergoing tooth extraction treatment.

Pediatric patients are frequently exposed to medical procedures that can cause pain and anxiety. While pharmacological interventions may be used, distraction is a simple and effective technique that diverts children's attention away from distressing stimuli. Distraction is a non-pharmacological pain management technique widely used by healthcare professionals during procedures to reduce pain and distress. It is based on the assumption that by shifting the child's attention to something interesting, their ability to pay attention to painful stimuli is inhibited, thereby reducing pain, distress, and anxiety. However, there are no published studies examining the effect of watching cartoons, listening to music, and the tell-show-do approach during tooth extraction on the physiological parameters, pain, and anxiety of children aged 6-12 years.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Be between 6 and 12 years of age,
• Have no systemic, neurological, or chronic diseases,
• Agree to sit in the patient chair (according to the Frankl scale: 2, 3, or 4),
• Have no mental or neurological problems,
• Understand and speak Turkish,
• Have an indication for tooth extraction
• Willingness to participate in the study,
• No visual or auditory impairments

Exclusion Criteria:

• Being a foreign national,
• Not wanting to participate in the study,
• Not agreeing to sit in the patient chair (1 on the Frankl scale)