The Effect of White and Pink Noise on Dental Anxiety in Children Aged 6–9 Years During Pulpotomy Procedures: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Study

Background In recent years, white and pink noise have emerged as nonpharmacological methods that may make dental visits less stressful and more comfortable for children. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of white and pink noise on anxiety levels in children undergoing pulpotomy. Materials and Methods A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted involving 75 children aged 6–9 years. Participants were randomly assigned to three equal groups: Group A (Tell–Show–Do TSD combined with white noise during the pulpotomy), Group B (TSD combined with pink noise during the pulpotomy), and Group C (control group without audio distraction during the pulpotomy). Anxiety levels were evaluated using the Facial Image Scale (FIS) at three time points: at baseline, following the administration of local anesthesia, and after completion of the pulpotomy procedure. Heart rate was also recorded at these same intervals, as well as after 10 min of noise exposure, following rubber dam placement, and during access preparation of the pulp chamber. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25, with a significance level set at p ‐value < 0.05. Results This study showed that at baseline and subsequent time points, no significant differences were observed in FIS anxiety scores among the three groups ( p ‐value = 0.825, 0.178, 0.792, respectively). In terms of heart rate, there was a significant difference just during pulp chamber access ( p ‐value = 0.014), where Group A (white noise) showed lower heart rates (93.80 ± 14.64) than Groups B (pink noise) (100.36 ± 10.98 and C (control) (103.80 ± 12.20). Conclusion Although no significant differences were found between groups, music intervention may help reduce anxiety and enhance comfort. Notably, white noise significantly lowered heart rate during pulp chamber access, suggesting a mild physiological calming effect. Trial Registration: ISRCTN Registry: ISRCTN11867479