To evaluate the potential of lavender, peppermint and chamomile aromatherapy in easing children's dental anxiety.
Aromatherapy offers a simple, safe, and effective way to ease anxiety, enhance cooperation, and create a calming dental experience for children.
To evaluate the potential of lavender, peppermint and chamomile aromatherapy in easing children's dental anxiety.
In this study, a hundred pediatric patients (aged 6 to 9 years) undergoing pulp therapy were randomly assigned to four groups: a control group with no aromatherapy and 3 experimental groups inhaling lavender, chamomile, or peppermint essential oils.
Aromatherapy was administered via nebulizers, and measurements for oxygen saturation (pulse oximetry), pulse rate (manual beats/minute), and dental anxiety (estimated via the Animated Emoji Scale) were recorded before and after treatment.
No substantial difference in oxygen saturation levels was observed across all study groups prior to and after treatment (P = 0.78). However, the children in the chamomile group showed the most substantial decrease in pulse rate (−22.84 ± 5.86, P < 0.001).
Dental anxiety scores varied considerably among groups (P < 0.001), with the control group experiencing a slight increase. The highest decrease in anxiety was observed in the chamomile and lavender groups, with no noteworthy difference between them, followed by the peppermint group (Table 1).
Chamomile and lavender were equally effective in alleviating dental anxiety in children, while peppermint had a milder effect.
Journal of Dental Sciences
The effects of lavender, chamomile and peppermint inhalation aromatherapy on dental anxiety in children: A randomized controlled trial
Yousra Mohamed Abdel Rehim et al.
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