Evaluation of the effect of essential oil aromatherapy on anxiety and pain during administration of local anesthesia in children: a randomized clinical trial

Background: The key to a child's treatment success in a pediatric dental setting is to control discomfort and anxiety. The proposed method supports the execution of a non-aversive behavior management scheme. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of essential oil aromatherapy on anxiety and pain associated with the administration of local anesthesia (LA) in children.

Methods: This study included 176 children (87 girls and 89 boys) aged 6-9 years, who were randomly divided into two groups. Group 1 received aromatherapy with essential oil using a nebulizer for 2 min with a 10-min induction period before the administration of LA. Group 2 (control group) was managed using non-pharmacological behavioral techniques. Baseline anxiety levels were recorded for all children before the intervention. LA was administered according to a standard protocol. Postprocedural pain and anxiety were assessed using the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (WBFPRS); Visual Analog Scale (VAS); Sound, Eye, Motor (SEM) scale; and Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale (MCDAS)(f). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0.

Results: The Mann-Whitney U test revealed a statistically significant difference in anxiety MCDAS(f) scores between the groups at both baseline (P = 0.022) and post-procedure (P = 0.001). The Wilcoxon signed-rank test also indicated a statistically significant change in anxiety scores within each group from baseline to post-procedure (P = 0.001). Furthermore, VAS, analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test, demonstrated a significant difference between the groups (P = 0.001). Pain scores measured using WBFPRS and SEM scales were significantly lower in the aromatherapy group, as determined using the chi-square test.

Conclusion: Prior use of essential oil aromatherapy can effectively reduce anxiety and pain in children during the administration of LA.