The effect of aromatherapy with Lavender-Neroli oil and music in management of pediatric dental anxiety: a randomized control trial

AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of aromatherapy with Lavender-Neroli essential oil combined with background music in reducing dental anxiety and pain during anesthesia in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 56 children aged 6–10 years old who needed dental treatment with inferior alveolar nerve injection (IANB) were randomly divided into two groups: Group 1 (Experimental, n = 28) aromatherapy with music group, and Group 2 (Control, n = 28) placebo. Children in Group 1 inhaled a Lavender-Neroli essential oil blend via a modified nasal mask and listened to self-chosen background music for 5 min before and during anesthesia; the control group wore an empty nasal mask. Anxiety and pain were assessed before and after anesthesia using the Facial Image Scale (FIS), FLACC scale, heart rate, SpO2, and diastolic/systolic blood pressure. RESULTS: Dental anxiety and vital signs except SpO2 were significantly lower in the aromatherapy with music group compared with the control group (p < 0.05), with no differences in pain perception between groups (p = 0.176). CONCLUSIONS: Aromatherapy with Lavender-Neroli oil combined with music appears to be a useful and safe non-pharmacologic technique for managing dental anxiety in children.