Galvanic Skin Response as a Measure of Anxiety: A Comparative Evaluation of Gayatri Mantra Chanting and Conventional Music Therapy in 6–10-year-old Children during Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block

Abstract

Background: Effective management of dental anxiety is essential for successful behavior guidance and ensuring a positive dental experience. Emotional responses such as stress and anxiety trigger ectodermal changes that increase the skin’s electrical conductivity. This physiological response can be objectively measured using galvanic skin response (GSR). Aim: Comparison of different music therapy techniques in alleviating anxiety in 6–10-year-old children during inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) injection using GSR measuring ectodermal activity. Materials and methods: Sixty children aged 6–10 years, requiring IANB, were divided into three groups: group A (white noise), group B (binaural beats), and group C [Gayatri mantra (GM)], with 20 participants each. Preoperative anxiety was assessed using the modified dental anxiety scale (MDAS), while postoperative using the visual analog scale (VAS). GSR, pulse rate (PR), and oxygen saturation (SpO2) were recorded both pre- and postoperatively to evaluate the efficacy of each intervention. Result: Preoperatively, no significant differences were observed in the anxiety scores among the three study groups (p > 0.0). In the postoperative phase, groups B and C exhibited significantly lower VAS scores compared to group A. Additionally, group C showed a notable reduction in GSR levels postoperatively when compared to both groups A and B. Significant reductions in mean GSR were observed from preoperative to postoperative measurements across all study groups. There were no notable differences in PR or SpO2 among the three groups before and after surgery, with all comparisons yielding p-values > 0.05. Conclusions: Managing dental procedures in anxious pediatric patients presents a significant challenge. Findings from this study suggest that music-based distraction techniques can effectively reduce anxiety and stress levels in children undergoing dental treatment.